constative utterance
[/kənˈsteɪtɪv ˈʌtərəns/]
nounpl: constative utterances
enunciado constativo
1. A statement or utterance that describes a state of affairs and can be evaluated as true or false; a declarative sentence that makes a claim about reality
The sentence 'The cat is on the mat' is a constative utterance because it can be verified as true or false.
A frase 'O gato está sobre o tapete' é um enunciado constativo porque pode ser verificado como verdadeiro ou falso.
2. In speech act theory, an utterance whose primary function is to assert or describe facts, as opposed to performing an action
Unlike performative utterances such as 'I promise,' constative utterances report on the world rather than change it.
Diferentemente dos enunciados performativos como 'Eu prometo', os enunciados constativos relatam o mundo em vez de modificá-lo.
This is a specialized term primarily used in academic contexts, particularly in linguistics, philosophy of language, and speech act theory. It was popularized by J.L. Austin's distinction between constative and performative utterances. The term has equal usage in both Brazilian and European Portuguese academic communities and is essential for understanding modern linguistic theory.
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