Speech as Behavior

Speech acts are really just behaviors, like any other. Speech is just something we do, and as such does not have any sort of special significance that philosophers would impart unto it.

A great number of our behaviors are normally meant to be communicative. These include body language, sign language, stomping one's foot, typing, writing, drawing pictures, etc. But all these things can be done without any intention to communicate. Sometimes doing these things helps one's thinking processes, or could serve as a catharsis for something we are feeling (like writing in a diary).

But the vast majority of what we do is not normally meant to be communicative. We bathe, eat, sleep, walk, cough, scratch, build, etc. Usually these have a practical purpose but they can also be somewhat aimless. The thing is, though, even these behaviors can communicate something to others, because they can observe our behaviors. And because of this, these behaviors can be communicative on purpose as well. Sometimes we do these things to send a message to others.

So what's the difference between the former and latter types of behaviors? Nothing really. With either type there can be an intention to communicate, or that intention can be absent (or it can even be subconscious). With both types, other people can generally observe and understand our behaviors (although understanding is sometimes absent as well).

In the end there is nothing special about speech acts. And the patterns speech acts follow (language) aren't special either. It's all just behavior, and behavior communicates.

An interesting aside is that we can lie with all our behavior, not just speech. If I want you to think something about me, I just need to engage in suitable behaviors that will lead you to that conclusion. For example, if I want you to think that I am tired, I can yawn, droop my eyelids, and act listless. I might also say, "I'm tired."