Alston explains the performance of these acts through the concept of "taking responsibility" (
In his seminal work , philosopher William P. Alston argues that the meaning of a sentence is fundamentally rooted in its illocutionary act potential . He defines an illocutionary act as the act of saying something with a specific "content," such as a request, an assertion, or a promise. The Core Theory: Sentence Meaning as Potential Illocutionary Acts and Sentence Meaning
Illocutionary Acts and Sentence Meaning by William P. Alston Alston explains the performance of these acts through
Acts that commit the speaker to future action, like promising or vowing. " such as a request