Words in Action: Speech ACT Theory and Biblical Interpretation - Paperbackby Richard Briggs (Author) How is the biblical text understood and how does it function in the life of the reader today? Richard Briggs first provides an illuminating introduction to the nature and claims of speech art theory. This seeks to extend our understanding of both spoken and written means of communication by seeing them not as merely representational or 'reality depicting', but as acting or causing acts to be performed through the words