Final answer:
Performative utterances, as introduced by J.L. Austin, serve to perform an action through speech and are considered to fix conditions of satisfaction when uttered by an individual with the proper authority in the appropriate context.
Step-by-step explanation:
In discussing the function of language, J.L. Austin introduced the concept of performative utterances in his work How to Do Things with Words. These utterances, such as "I promise" or "I warn", are not merely statements that describe the world. Instead, they serve to perform an action by the very act of speaking. That is, they are utterances that fulfill certain conditions through speech, creating what is known as their conditions of satisfaction. For example, when someone says "I pronounce you married", they aren't describing a marriage; they are enacting it through their authorized speech.
As for the question of whether performative utterances fix conditions of satisfaction, the answer largely depends on the context and the authority of the speaker. If an authorized figure, such as a judge or a religious leader, says "I pronounce you married", the performative utterance is considered to fulfill and therefore fix the conditions of the marriage. However, if someone without the proper authority makes the same statement, the conditions of satisfaction are not fixed because the speech act lacks the conventional backing to perform the action.
Performative utterances can also be found in more everyday language, not just in formal phrases. Whenever we speak with intent to do something—be it apologizing, offering, or naming—our utterances are performative in nature. Austin's investigation revealed that performative aspects are woven into much of our daily communication, showing that language is not only for conveying information but also for enacting social functions and relations.