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`You're Fired': An Application of Speech Act Theory to 2 Samuel 15.23—16.14

Fuller Theological Seminary, 135 N. Oakland Ave., Pasadena, CA 91182, USA

While the role of speech act theory in studying how words do things in real life continues to yield insight into the study of language, the theory can also contribute to an understanding of the performative nature of words in regard to biblical narrative. In this article speech act theory is applied to the narrative of 2 Sam. 15.23—16.14 in two ways. First, the speech acts of the characters are analyzed as real speech acts using the categories presented by John Searle to see how they function within the story. Second, the reality that these speech acts are in fact parasitic is taken into account, and all speech acts including those of the narrator are examined for the way they create a literary world that consists of perlocutionary acts intended to affect a presumed audience.

Key Words: Absalom's Revolt • Succession Narrative • 2 Samuel • King David • Ahithophel • Shimei • speech act theory • John Searle

Journal for the Study of the Old Testament, Vol. 33, No. 3, 315-334 (2009)
DOI: 10.1177/0309089209102499


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