The illocutionary force of an utterance is the speaker's intention in producing that utterance. An illocutionary act is an instance of a culturally-defined speech act type, characterised by a particular illocutionary force; for example, promising, advising, warning, ..

Thus, if a speaker asks How's that salad doing? Is it ready yet?" as a way of ("politely") enquiring about the salad, his/her intent may be in fact to make the waiter bring the salad. Thus the illocutionary force of the utterance is not an inquiry about the progress of salad construction, but a demand that the salad be brought.

Another definition:

Illocutionary force is the combination of

• the illocutionary point of an utterance, and

• the particular presuppositions and attitudes that must accompany that point, including the

  • strength of the illocutionary point

  • preparatory conditions

  • propositional content conditions

  • mode of achievement

  • sincerity conditions, and

  • strength of sincerity conditions.

Examples (English)

• Illocutionary force distinguishes the following types of acts:

• Asserting

• Promising

• Excommunicating

• Exclaiming in pain

• Inquiring

• Ordering

See also identity of illocutionary forces

Sources Crystal 1980:152, Searle and Vanderveken 1985:1,7-9,20-21