Illocutionary dynamics and discrimination

The chapter illustrates the author‘s Austin-inspired conception of illocution, according to which it affects the deontic-modal properties of speaker and addressee (what they “can”, “may”, “should” or “ought to” do and the like) thanks to interpersonal or social agreement (which in turn presupposes intersubjective recognition). This view of illocution enables us to analyze cases in which impositions are made, and the addressee is subordinated to the speaker‘ s authority, paving the way to bias and discrimination. Intersubjective recognition is also shown to be relevant to the analysis of social facts and particularly to matters of coexistence and conflict.