performativeadj.n.
/pəˈfɔːmətɪv/, U.S. /pərˈfɔrmədɪv/ A. adj.
1. Of, relating to, of the nature of, or characterized by performance; (Linguistics and Philosophy) designating or relating to an utterance that effects an action by being spoken or by means of which the speaker performs a particular act.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > speech > [adjective] > of a speech act
performative1922
performatory1949
perlocutionary1955
1922 Jrnl. Philos. 19 632 Thus, memorizing might be considered as a memorial action midway between the informational and performative sort.
1955 A. J. Ayer in B. I. Evans Stud. in Communication 27 There are very many uses of language, prescriptive, ritualistic, playful, or performative, which are not fact-stating.
1955 J. L. Austin MS Lect. Notes: How to do Things with Words (Bodl. Eng. Misc. c. 394) f. 41 What are we to call this type of sentence or utterance? I propose to call it a performative sentence or a performative utterance.
1976 P. Donovan Relig. Lang. vii. 80 Performative words are used, for instance, when we vote for a motion by saying ‘Aye’,..or adjourn a meeting with the words ‘The meeting is adjourned’.
2003 School Arts (Nexis) 1 May 12 She has made the connection between play and performance to enhance the creative process as well as highlight the performative aspects of teaching.
2. Usually depreciative. Of action, speech, behaviour, etc.: done or expressed for the sake of appearance, esp. to impress others or to improve one's own image (typically with the implication of insincere intent or superficial impact).
ΘΠ
society > morality > moral evil > lack of principle or integrity > [adjective] > disingenuous or insincere
unwholea1352
unsincere1577
insincere1634
uningenious1638
uningenuous1638
disingenuous1648
disingenious1661
uncandid1771
fake1942
1996 C. Kaplan Erotics of Talk 162 If we are to provide more than merely performative or poetic justice we need clearer blueprints for meaningful social action.
2014 @isanaka 30 Oct. in twitter.com (accessed 30 June 2022) When a dude says ‘i'm not perfect’ with performative humility I wanna be like ‘yeah, man, literally no one has ever assumed that.’
2022 Edmonton (Alberta) Sun (Nexis) 4 May a11 These small sacrifices, despite their good intentions, are ultimately performative measures meant to show other cities and countries how adept we are at fighting climate change.
B. n.
Linguistics and Philosophy. A performative utterance. Cf. constative n.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > speech > [noun] > a speech act or fact of being a speech act
descriptive1952
illocution1955
locution1955
performative1955
performatory1955
perlocution1955
performativeness1960
performativity1970
1955 J. L. Austin MS Lect. Notes: How to do Things with Words (Bodl. Eng. Misc. c. 394) f. 41 What are we to call this type of sentence or utterance? I propose to call it a performative sentence, or a performative utterance, or for short ‘a performative’.
1978 Listener 30 Mar. 396/3 When I say, ‘I promise’, or ‘I bet’ or ‘I apologise’ or ‘Thanks’..these he called ‘performatives’.
2000 C. Poynton in A. Lee & C. Poynton Culture & Text ii. 27 ‘Performatives’ such as ‘I name this ship The Golden Fleece’.
Derivatives
perˈformativeness n.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > speech > [noun] > a speech act or fact of being a speech act
descriptive1952
illocution1955
locution1955
performative1955
performatory1955
perlocution1955
performativeness1960
performativity1970
1960 Proc. Aristotelian Soc. 60 p. v The most famous of his [sc. J. L. Austin's] discoveries in this field was of the element of performativeness that enters into many kinds of utterance ordinarily classified as statements.
1996 Mod. Philol. 93 546 Dickinson anticipates camp's..capacity to make flippancy of agony, its performativeness, and above all its focus on the body.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2005; most recently modified version published online December 2022).
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adj.n.1922