What is an illocutionary denegation?

Definition
	An illocutionary denegation is an illocutionary act that is made complex by the negation of its illocutionary force. It expresses that the speaker is not performing a particular illocutionary act.

Example (English)

I do not promise to come.

This illocutionary act contrasts with I promise not to come, in which the speaker does perform an illocutionary act.

Source:

Searle and Vanderveken 1985 4

Generic
	An illocutionary denegation is a kind of
	What is a complex illocutionary act?

Source
	Searle and Vanderveken 1985 4–5

Concept module: illocutionary denegation
In overview module: Glossary (Linguistics): I
In modular book: Glossary of linguistic terms, by Eugene E. Loos (general editor), Susan Anderson (editor), Dwight H., Day, Jr. (editor), Paul C. Jordan (editor), and J. Douglas Wingate (editor)
In bookshelf: Linguistics

This page is an extract from the LinguaLinks Library, Version 5.0 published on CD-ROM by SIL International, 2003. [Ordering information.]

Page content last modified: 5 January 2004