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Original scientific paper

Performatives and Imperatives

Anna Brozek ; University of Warsav


Full text: english pdf 166 Kb

page 17-34

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Abstract

The term “performative” is used in at least two different senses. In the first sense, performatives are generatives, i.e. expres- sions by the use of which one creates new deontic states of affairs on the ground of extralinguistic conventions. In the sec- ond sense, performatives are operatives, i.e. expressions which contain verbal pred- icates and state their own utterances. In the article, both these types of expressions are compared to the class of imperatives which are characterized as expressions of the form “Let x see to it that p” and typ- ically express wishes. It is claimed that (1) only these imperatives are generatives which are uttered by deontic authorities, (2) no imperative is an operative sensu stricto; (3) imperative operatives are used instead of “pure” imperatives in order to emphasize the force of resolution.

Keywords

deontic authority; deontic state of affairs; generative; imperative; op- erative; performative; wish

Hrčak ID:

84299

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/84299

Publication date:

11.10.2011.

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