1. Introduction.-- 2. A set of postulates.-- 3. Formalism and fuctionalism.-- 4. The interpersonal role of the cooperative principle.-- 5. The tact maxim.-- 6. A survey of the interpersonal rhetoric.-- 7. Communicative grammar: an example.-- 8. Performatives.-- 9. Speech-act verbs in English.-- 10. Retrospect and prospect.