word
Illocutionary Force
ih-lok-yoo-SHUN-er-ee forss
/ɪˌlɒkjʊˈʃɒnəriː fɔːrs/Listen
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Syllable breakdown
illocutionaryforce
Dictionary meaning
The intended communicative function of an utterance — what the speaker is doing by saying something, such as asserting, promising, requesting, or warning — distinguished from the literal meaning of the words
History and origin
Austin's distinction between locution (what is said), illocution (what is done), and perlocution (the effect); central to speech act theory
Examples
- The sentence 'Can you pass the salt?' has the illocutionary force of a request, not a genuine inquiry about physical ability.
- Understanding illocutionary force is essential for interpreting irony, politeness, and indirect speech.
Synonyms: illocution, speech act force, pragmatic force
Pronunciation tips
Break the word down: il-lo-cu-TION-ar-y; the stress cluster is on '-tion-'
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