Expressive
Pattern
Speaker→I feel X about Y — attitude-expressing utterance
Definition
A speech act that expresses the speaker's psychological state — thanking, apologizing, congratulating, complaining, welcoming, or expressing emotion. The focus is on the speaker's attitude rather than truth or action.
Examples
Example 1
'I'm sorry for the confusion this has caused.' — an expressive apologizing and acknowledging negative impact.
AI Detection Note
AI expressives often feel performative rather than genuine. Phrases like 'I'm excited to share' or 'I appreciate your patience' follow templates rather than emerging from actual psychological states.
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