illocutionary act

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "illocutionary act" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in the context of linguistics and philosophy to refer to the intended meaning or function behind a statement, rather than just its literal meaning. Example: "When she said 'Can you pass the salt?', the illocutionary act was a request rather than a question."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Encyclopedias

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

34 human-written examples

This taxonomy developed by Bach and Harnish (1979) is based on Austin's well-known linguistic principle of the illocutionary act, which is concerned with the force of a text.

Critical Perspectives on Accounting

Austin distinguished between various kinds of "speech act": the "locutionary" act of uttering a sentence, the "illocutionary" act performed in or by the act of uttering, and the "perlocutionary" act or effect the act of uttering results in.

Encyclopedia Britannica

(illocutionary act)  .

Security Informatics

What did Austin think was important about the illocutionary act?

SEP

According to the former definition, an illocutionary act S1 commits a speaker to another illocutionary act S2 iff it is not possible to perform S1 without performing S2.

SEP

The illocutionary act I performed was that of becoming a British citizen.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

26 human-written examples

First, it interprets works of fiction as what philosophers of language call illocutionary acts.

The New Yorker

They are only one of many kinds of performative utterance, or speech act (Austin called them "illocutionary acts"), which consist of social acts performed by means of linguistic utterances in appropriate circumstances.

Encyclopedia Britannica

He does represent the performance of those illocutionary acts, though.

SEP

What poets and other authors of literary works do, Beardsley thinks, is represent the performance of illocutionary acts, not perform illocutionary acts themselves.

SEP

Austin famously distinguished (in How to Do Things with Words) between illocutionary acts and perlocutionary acts.

University of Chicago

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing the impact of language, clearly differentiate between the "illocutionary act" (the speaker's intention) and the perlocutionary effect (the actual result on the listener).

Common error

Avoid assuming the intended effect of an utterance is always achieved. The "illocutionary act" is the speaker's goal; the perlocutionary effect is the listener's actual response, which may differ.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "illocutionary act" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It identifies a specific type of action performed through language, as exemplified by Ludwig's analysis of its usage in philosophical and linguistic contexts. It represents a crucial concept in speech act theory.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

65%

Encyclopedias

20%

Academia

15%

Less common in

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "illocutionary act" is a grammatically sound and frequently used term, particularly within academic, philosophical, and linguistic circles. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's used to denote the intended meaning or function behind an utterance, distinguishing it from the literal meaning and the actual effect on the listener. While alternatives like "speech act" or "communicative act" exist, "illocutionary act" carries a specific weight in discussions of speech act theory and pragmatic analysis. Understanding this term is crucial for anyone studying language's power to perform actions beyond simple information transfer.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

illocutionary force

Specifically refers to the intended function or effect of the utterance.

speech act

Focuses more broadly on the action performed through language, encompassing locutionary and perlocutionary aspects.

communicative act

Emphasizes the act of conveying information or meaning.

speech function

Highlights the specific role or purpose of an utterance.

performative utterance

Stresses the action being performed by the utterance itself, rather than just its content.

force of an utterance

Focuses on the impact and intended effect of the words spoken.

intended meaning

Highlights the speaker's purpose in making the utterance.

speaker's intention

Directly refers to what the speaker aims to achieve with their words.

pragmatic force

Emphasizes the role of context and real-world knowledge in interpreting the utterance.

act of communication

General term focusing on the act of sharing information.

FAQs

How is an "illocutionary act" different from a perlocutionary act?

An "illocutionary act" refers to the speaker's intended meaning or the act they are performing by speaking (e.g., promising, requesting). A perlocutionary act is the actual effect the utterance has on the listener (e.g., persuading, convincing). The "perlocutionary act" is the consequence of the illocution.

What are some examples of "illocutionary acts"?

Examples of "illocutionary acts" include stating a fact, making a promise, issuing a warning, asking a question, giving an order, or expressing an opinion. Each of these involves the speaker performing a specific action through their utterance.

How does context influence the interpretation of an "illocutionary act"?

Context is crucial because it helps determine the speaker's intended meaning. Factors like social setting, relationship between speakers, and non-verbal cues all contribute to understanding the "illocutionary act". The same words can have different "illocutionary force" depending on the context.

What can I say instead of "illocutionary act"?

While "illocutionary act" is a specific term, you can use alternatives like "speech act", "communicative act", or "speaker's intention" depending on the nuance you want to convey.