The classification of cooperative illocutionary acts

Abstract

The different taxonomies of illocutionary acts proposed by Austin, Searle, Vendler, Ohmann, and Fraser are compared in summary form, with Searle's taxonomy taken as a reference standard. All five of these taxonomies slight two kinds of illocutionary act: (I) illocutionary acts that combine commissive with directive illocutionary force (e.g., offering, inviting, challenging), and (2) illocutionary acts that require two participants (e.g., giving, selling, contracting). These and related speech acts are discussed in some detail, and Searle's classification is amended to take them into account. (Speech acts, Austin, Searle, law, contracts, English.)