Declarative
Pattern
Speaker (with authority)→X is now the case — reality-changing utterance
Definition
A speech act that changes reality by being uttered — declaring, pronouncing, naming, christening, or sentencing. Requires institutional authority or social convention to succeed.
Examples
Example 1
'I now pronounce you married.' — the utterance itself creates the married state. Only works if the speaker has the authority.
AI Detection Note
AI rarely produces genuine declaratives because they require institutional authority. When AI attempts declarative force ('This is the definitive guide to...'), it often oversteps, claiming authority it doesn't possess.
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