Definition of illocution in English:

noun

• An act of speaking or writing which in itself effects or constitutes the intended action, e.g. ordering, warning, or promising.

  Compare with perlocution

  Example sentences

  • ‘In particular, speech act theory is built on his discussion of locution, illocution, and perlocution.’
  • ‘Perlocutions ‘proceed’ from locutions and illocutions, but not vice versa.’
  • ‘Though both reject a mere psychological description of authorial intent, they differ with regards to whether intention is restricted to illocutions or incorporates perlocutionary elements as well.’
  • ‘These implicit aspects of the message go beyond the locutionary act itself and also beyond the explicit aspects of its illocution.’
  • ‘Meaning corresponds with illocution, while significance is best related to perlocution.’