What are performative utterances?

A performative utterance is when you say something that actually does something, like making a promise or giving an order.

Imagine you're playing a game with your friend. You say, “I declare war!” That’s not just words, it starts the game! Your friend now knows they have to fight back. That's a performative utterance because saying those words actually changes what's happening in the game.

If you're playing chef, and you say, “I command you to bring me a cookie!”, that’s also a performative utterance. It doesn’t just tell your friend what to do; it makes them obligated to do it. It's like saying “I promise I’ll clean my room”, once you say it, the promise is real.

Or think about when you say “I promise I'll share my snack.” That’s also a performative utterance. Just by saying those words, you've made a promise that now has to be kept. It's like pressing a button, once it's pressed, the action starts.

So next time you're playing a game or making a promise, remember: some words actually make things happen!