Keelefilosoofia raamat
contrasted it with "locutionary" or propositional content.1
In different contexts, the same declarative may have different illocution-
ary forces. "That Rottweiler has been starved for three days and is peevish"
could have the force of a threat rather than a warning; or it could be merely
an observation; or (notice) it could be a soothing reassurance. Even children
recognize differences in potential force: A complaint such as "If you don't
quit it I'm going home" is met by the gibe, "Is that a threat or a promise?"
Turning to nondeclaratives, it is considerably more obvious that they have
distinctive varieties of forces. In fact, the point of moods such as interroga-
tive and imperative seems to be to indicate ranges of illocutionary force.
(13) Are you a member of the Salvation Army?
could be paraphrased as "I (hereby) ask you whether you are a member of the
Salvation Army," and likewise for "wh"-questions such as "Who let Fluffy
out of her cage?"
annaabi.ee 
