ILLOCUTIONARY Definition & Meaning

illocutionary

[ il-uh-kyoo-shuh-ner-ee ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

Philosophy, Linguistics.

pertaining to a linguistic act performed by a speaker in producing an utterance, as suggesting, warning, promising, or requesting.

Discover More

Discover More

First recorded in 1950–55; il- ¹ + locution + -ary

Discover More

Examples have not been reviewed.

It seems to be about the listener’s ability to shut the window, but the illocutionary act tells the listener to shut the window.

From

The descriptive content isn’t racist, but the illocutionary force – the meaning of saying it – may well be.

From

But my intention – the “illocutionary force”, in Austin’s jargon – is to try to make you feel bad, or get you to tidy up.

From

Browse