What is an illocutionary point?

Definition
	An illocutionary point is the basic purpose of a speaker in making an utterance.
	It is a component of illocutionary force.

Discussion
	According to certain analyses, there are five kinds of illocutionary points:
	To assert something To commit to doing something To attempt to get someone to do something To bring about a state of affairs by the utterance To express an attitude or emotion

Kinds
	Here are some kinds of illocutionary points:
	What is an assertive illocutionary point? What is a commissive illocutionary point? What is a declarative illocutionary point? What is a directive illocutionary point? What is an expressive illocutionary point?

Source
	Searle and Vanderveken 1985 13–15

Context for this page:

Concept module: illocutionary point
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

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