The illocutionary/ perlocutionary distinction: between the performative and the passionate utterance

This paper explores the distinction between illocution and perlocution in speech act theory, highlighting the complexity of interactions between these dimensions of the utterance. Building on a close reading of J. L. Austin’s analysis in “How to Do Things with Words” and Stanley Cavell’s article on the passionate utterance, the text argues that the conventional approach to speech acts, which focuses on illocution, overlooks the essential affective dimension of perlocution. Cavell proposes a reconceptualization of perlocution through the lens of passionate utterances, emphasizing the interdependence between affect, motivation, and the interlocutor’s response. The paper suggests the necessity of integrating these dimensions into the analysis of the total speech act, thus offering a more nuanced and holistic approach to language that encompasses both conventions and the affective and relational dimensions.