Ndimele (2007:139) has
it that the concept of felicity condition was proposed by Austin (1962). He agrees that there are
certain criteria which must be satisfied by a speech act if it must be termed
successful (that is to achieve its communicative purposes). These requirements
which are necessary in the accomplishment of any illocutionary act, are what Austin (1962) refers to as
felicity condition.
An illocutionary act is
adjudged felicitous, if it met certain condition under which words can be used
properly to perform actions, or adjudged infelicitous if such words fail such
conditions. Austin
in Huang (2007) distinguishes three types of felicity conditions, they are,
preparatory, sincerity and essential conditions.
A) Preparatory condition:
Ndimele (2007) noted that this refers to
those requirements which specify that the person performing a particular speech
act must have the right to do so. Austin
stated that in this condition there must be a conventional procedure, having a
conventional effect. For instance,
The accused Koje, is
pronounced guilty on 7 count charges of
armed robbery and
related offences.
In order for this
utterance to be felicitous, it should be said in a court of law, and said by
the proper persons, in accordance with court procedure. But if the person
performing the act has no right to perform it, or the act is being performed in
an inappropriate situation, and place, then the act is declared null and void,
or what Austin
refers to as MISFIRE.
B) Sincerity condition:
The procedure here must be executed correctly and completely. But if the person
performing the act is insincere, then the sincerity condition has been flouted.
The flouting of this condition is what Austin
calls ABUSE.
C) Executive condition:
Osisanwo (2003) states that this condition demands every speech act to be
supported by positive action. That is, by way of enforcing the necessary
actions that emanated from it.
D) Fulfillment condition: This
demands to know the perlocutionary effect of the speech act on the participant
/ listener.