Definition

In speech-act theory, a locutionary act is the act of making a meaningful utterance. Also known as a locution or an utterance act.

The term locutionary act was introduced by British philosopher John L. Austin in How to Do Things With Words (1962). American philosopher John Searle has replaced Austin's concept of the locutionary act with what Searle calls the propositional act--i.e., the act of expressing a proposition.




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See Examples and Observations below. Also see:
Illocutionary Act and Illocutionary Force
Perlocutionary
Pragmatic Competence
Pragmatics
Speech Act



Examples and Observations:


"The act of 'saying something' in the full normal sense I call, i.e., dub, the performance of a locutionary act, and the study of utterances thus far and in these respects the study of locutions, or of the full units of speech. . . .