The analysis of speech acts: deciphering a text or a speech to establish a profile

Expression is an act because it affects others and... the speaker. It reveals one's self-image, the image others have of oneself, desires and rejections, intentions, cognitive processes, emotions and feelings.

The analysis of speech acts is an academic discipline that requires years of research. It aims to understand the explicit and implicit meanings of speech or writing in order to establish a profile of its author. It is therefore fundamental in cases of harassment because it is based on scientific principles. In this respect, it differs from the ‘magical profiling’ seen in mainstream films and ‘fact-checking’. It uses observation and analysis grids that are carefully reworked for each case to ensure a close fit. Interpretation leaves no room for intuition, beliefs or preconceived ideas.

The analysis of speech acts requires sound linguistic, cultural and psychological knowledge; knowledge of different types of management and group dynamics; it distinguishes between communication and information; it draws on professional didactics; it requires mastery of both analysis and synthesis. It relies on context and requires the ability to apply concepts from different disciplines.

While words are analysed, so too are silences, mumblings, interjections, sound effects and punctuation. This establishes a set of logical links, as all these elements have a direction, a weight and therefore a value in relation to the context.

A demanding and multidisciplinary method, it requires extreme concentration, including in the moment, as well as the ability to distance oneself from one's emotions when observing and processing data. In this respect, it may seem inhuman, when in fact it is deeply human: it is the complexity of the human condition that is revealed and, at specific times, experienced.

The analysis of speech acts is an essential tool for unmasking harassment or in any situation requiring an understanding of a person's intentions, unspoken words, half-truths, strategies and lies. However, it is based on a precise study of the situation and the people involved and goes far beyond a literary analysis.

What must be understood is that no expression is impersonal and that neutrality is an ideal. To express oneself or to remain silent is to be present and to reveal oneself.