Felicity conditions is the person’s efficacy in the use of acts of speech while conversing or speaking. The felicity situation is an environment in which the statements made have fulfilled the necessary requirements, such as sufficient meaning, traditional presence, legitimacy, and narrator sincerity. While speaking, a sentence might be grammatically correct and well formed but the context of the sentence must abide with the condition or the appropriateness of the situation. If not, a sentence can be hurtful or misinterpreted by the audience. These parameters set by John Searle are:
Propositional Content Condition
The audience/participants must comprehend the speech, and not act to understand. The proposed content must be precise and affirmative, such as a order or a promise.
For example, a command must state authority “Get up on the stage and hold the placard towards the audience”, here the speaker isn’t requesting, his power over the hearer is clearly stated.
Preparatory Condition
The speech must have the command over the audience’s thoughts. The speaker must have a particular faith about his own act and the circumstances his audience is in.
For example, the difference between a promise and a threat “I swear to take revenge for my brother’s assault.” Here the sentence isn’t a threat to anybody, but a promise to the audience.
Sincerity Condition
A speaker must be wiling to keep his word, the attitude towards his content should be promising and must convey that he intents to do the act.
For example, “I will be running for presidential elections this year and I’m going to win it!”
Essential Condition
Where the speaker has made a commitment to its audience and is committing to do what it promises to do.
Using Felicity conditions in your speech will help you to be more comprehensible by your audience. These can greatly increase the effect your speech has on people and also eradicate misunderstandings in acts of speech.