performative utterance

English

Etymology

Coined by British philosopher J. L. Austin (1911–1960).

Noun
Examples
  • “I now pronounce you husband and wife” (when uttered by the authorized officiator during a marriage ceremony)
  • “You're fired!” (when exclaimed by an employer terminating a person's employment)

performative utterance (plural performative utterances)

  1. (philosophy, linguistics) A sentence or other linguistic expression which, when expressed in an appropriate context, actually does or accomplishes something.

Translations

References

Further reading
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