performative utterance

USAGE SUMMARY

"performative utterance" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe a type of sentence that, rather than merely describing or reporting something, actually performs an action. For example, "I hereby declare this meeting adjourned" is a performative utterance.

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

Such felicity conditions precede, condition, and otherwise constrain the performativity of language; without them the performative utterance wouldn't count as an act.

Johns Hopkins University

The line was a performative utterance: in that moment, Tupac became the realest.

The New Yorker

But it is a performative utterance (as such things have been called), a prelude and a readiness for ongoing nonverbal action.

The New York Times

"From Performative Utterance to Performative Object: Pende Theories of Speech, Blood Sacrifice, and Power Objects". RES: Journal of Anthropology and Aesthetics 37 (Spring 2000), pp. 49-71.

Columbia University

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

I lost count of the scenes in which Gwen and Peter thrash out the question of whether they should be a couple, and there is a sigh of relief in the cinema when she, deploying what philosophers would call a performative utterance, says simply, "I break up with you," leaving us to wonder if she pulls the same trick in bed: "And now we approach the orgasm".

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

In their solutions, theologians discussed a wide range of topics, including the relation between the use and mention of a proposition, the relation of a proposition to the stretch of time during which it is uttered, and the difference between factual and performative utterances, but what concerns us here is their treatment of the word 'this'this

SEP

This will engage us in formal semantics and pragmatics, the theory of speech acts and performative utterances, and quite a bit of empirical work on a not-too-well understood complex of data.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

He further distinguished between explicit and implicit performative utterances.

SEP

Performative utterances differ from other utterances in an illocutionary, rather than a locutionary, way.

SEP

It is often thought that performative utterances generally work this way (Kempson 1977).

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "performative utterance" when you want to emphasize that a statement is not just descriptive but also performs an action or brings about a change in the world. Ensure the context supports this active role of language.

Common error

Avoid using "performative utterance" in casual or informal writing. The phrase is technical and best suited for academic or philosophical discussions where its precise meaning is relevant.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "performative utterance" functions as a noun phrase that identifies a specific type of speech act. Ludwig AI confirms that it's used to describe statements that perform an action rather than simply describing a state of affairs.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Academia

35%

Science

35%

News & Media

30%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "performative utterance" is a noun phrase designating a type of speech act that actively performs an action, rather than merely describing something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and primarily used in formal contexts like academic papers and theoretical discussions. While examples are relatively common, its technical nature suggests reserving it for situations where its precise meaning is relevant. Consider alternatives like "speech act" or "illocutionary act" in broader contexts. Its function is to label specific instances of language where words create a change, and its frequent sources reflect scholarly and analytical domains.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

performative speech act

Highlights the action-oriented nature of certain speech acts.

explicit performative

Specifies that the action is named directly in the utterance (e.g., "I promise").

speech act

Broader term encompassing all utterances performing an action, not just explicit ones.

implicit performative

The action is performed without being explicitly named (e.g., "I'll be there").

illocutionary act

Focuses on the speaker's intention in making an utterance.

operative utterance

Emphasizes the operative or functional aspect of the utterance.

effective utterance

Highlights the success of the utterance in achieving its intended effect.

action-oriented utterance

Directly describes the utterance's focus on performing an action.

language as action

Emphasizes the view of language not just as descriptive but as actively shaping reality.

words that do things

A simple and direct way to describe the function of performative utterances.

FAQs

What is a simple definition of "performative utterance"?

A "performative utterance" is a statement that, when spoken in the right context, performs an action. Examples include saying "I do" during a wedding ceremony or "You're fired!" when terminating employment.

How does a "performative utterance" differ from a regular statement?

Unlike regular statements that describe something, a "performative utterance" does something. It's not just saying something is true; it's making something true by saying it.

What are some alternatives to "performative utterance"?

Depending on the context, you might use "speech act", "illocutionary act", or "performative speech act". These terms all relate to the study of language as action.

In what fields is the concept of "performative utterance" commonly used?

The concept of "performative utterance" is frequently used in philosophy, linguistics, law, and social sciences to analyze how language shapes social realities.