Appropriateness conditions for entire sequences of speech acts

Abstract This paper discusses the question whether the concept of appropriateness can be meaningfully applied to whole sequences of speech acts, and can be kept theoretically distinct from the conjunction of the appropriateness values assigned to the speech acts included in the sequence. It is argued that this is possible; the paper then proceeds to spell out the general conditions of appropriateness of speech act sequences as well as the specific conditions of appropriateness relevant to each type of speech act sequence that may occur in conversation. Finally, a few considerations are offered about the possibility and the desirability of developing speech act theory into a theoretical framework capable of raising empirical questions about the use of language in social contexts.