What is a mode of achievement?

Definition
	A mode of achievement is the means employed by a speaker to accomplish the illocutionary point of an utterance.

Examples (English)
	The exercise of authority due to position, in achieving a directive illocutionary point when giving a command Assuming the position of a supplicant in achieving a directive illocutionary point when begging Assuming the position of witness in achieving an assertive illocutionary point when testifying

Sources
	Searle and Vanderveken 1985 15–16, 40
	Searle 1979 5–6

Context for this page:

Concept module: mode of achievement
In overview module: Glossary (Linguistics): M
In modular book: Glossary of linguistic terms, by Eugene E. Loos (general editor), Susan Anderson (editor), Dwight H., Day, Jr. (editor), Paul C. Jordan (editor), and J. Douglas Wingate (editor)
In bookshelf: Linguistics

This page is an extract from the LinguaLinks Library, Version 5.0 published on CD-ROM by SIL International, 2003. [Ordering information.]

Page content last modified: 5 January 2004

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