Cited by 21,496Syntax, Semantics, Linguistic VariationWittgensteinian philosophy and applicationsEpistemology, Ethics, and Metaphysics

How To Do Things With Words

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Austin, J.L.·1975·Routledge eBooks

Abstract

This work sets out the author's conclusions in the field to which he directed his main efforts for at least the last ten years of his life. Starting from an examination of his already well-known distinction between performative utterances and statements, he finally abandons that distinction, replacing it with a more general theory of ‘illocutionary forces’ of utterances, which has important bearings on a wide variety of philosophical problems.

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Crossref · 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198245537.001.0001

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  • Bourdieu borrowed from Austin in emphasizing 'misfires' or blips, instances in which attempted speech acts (or by extension, attempted practices of any sort) fail because of some maladaption of practice to the situation.

    “Bourdieu borrowed from Austin (1975: 16) in emphasizing ' misfires ' or blips, instances in which attempted speech acts (or by extension, attempted practices of any sort) fail because of some maladaption of practice to the situation (Austin's 'infelicities').”

    From Bourdieu, Historicity, and Historical Sociology (2011) · cites this paper as Austin, 1975

  • Not knowing intended meanings or illocutions makes interlocutors' misunderstanding inevitable.

    “Not knowing these intended meanings or illocutions, in Austin's (1975) words, interlocutors' misunderstanding is inevitable.”

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Authors
Austin, J. L.
Corresponding author
Austin, J.L.
Venue
Routledge eBooks
Published
1975-09-18
Pages
177-182
OpenAlex
W1576632330
Cited by
21,496
References
0
Citations by year
2026: 432 · 2025: 587 · 2024: 705 · 2023: 823 · 2022: 768 · 2021: 996 · 2020: 1094 · 2019: 1291 · 2018: 1056 · 2017: 881 · 2016: 898 · 2015: 873 · 2014: 960 · 2013: 858 · 2012: 797
FWCI
374.62
Type
book chapter
Language
en
Open access
Licence
other-oa
Locations
  • Routledge eBooks (publishedVersion)
  • DIAL (Catholic University of Leuven) (submittedVersion)
  • MPG.PuRe (Max Planck Society) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Language and Linguistics › Syntax, Semantics, Linguistic Variation
  • Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Philosophy › Wittgensteinian philosophy and applications
  • Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Philosophy › Epistemology, Ethics, and Metaphysics
Keywords
performatives, illocutionary force, statements, speech acts, pragmatics, philosophy of language

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