performative acts

[pər-ˈfȯr-mə-tiv ˈaks]
nounpl: performative acts
atos performativos
1. Actions or utterances that accomplish something by being performed, rather than simply describing or representing it; speech acts that create social reality or establish facts through their enunciation
Wedding vows are performative acts because saying 'I do' actually creates the marriage rather than merely describing it.
Os votos matrimoniais são atos performativos porque dizer 'eu aceito' realmente cria o casamento em vez de meramente descrevê-lo.
2. In philosophy and linguistics, utterances or behaviors that constitute the action they name, particularly in speech act theory
Promising, commanding, and christening are examples of performative acts that do something beyond just communicating information.
Prometer, ordenar e batizar são exemplos de atos performativos que fazem algo além de simplesmente comunicar informações.
3. Actions performed for effect or as a display, often implying social or political significance
The protest march was a series of performative acts designed to raise awareness about climate change.
A marcha de protesto foi uma série de atos performativos projetados para conscientizar sobre mudanças climáticas.
The concept of performative acts originated with British philosopher J.L. Austin's speech act theory and is foundational in contemporary philosophy, linguistics, and cultural studies. In Brazil, the term is primarily used in academic contexts, particularly in universities studying language, philosophy, theater, and gender studies. The concept has gained broader cultural significance with discussions of performative identity and social media behavior, where people's online actions are analyzed as performative acts that construct identity and social reality.
Synonyms / Sinônimos
speech actsperformative utterancesillocutionary actsconstitutive actions
Antonyms / Antônimos
constative actsdescriptive statementsinformative utterances

Regional Variations

General Brazilian Portuguese
atos performativos
Standard academic and philosophical terminology
São Paulo
atos performativos
Commonly used in academic circles and cultural studies
Rio de Janeiro
atos performativos
Used in theatrical and performance art contexts
Portugal
atos performativos
Equivalent academic usage; may also use 'enunciados performativos'

Related Words

performativityspeech act theoryAustin, J.L.illocutionary forcesocial constructionutterance

Related Idioms & Phrases

actions speak louder than words
put your money where your mouth is
words into action
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