Prophetic Utterance: Speaking Is About Doing Something

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Prophetic Utterance: Speaking Is About Doing Something

Being aware of how we communicate with one another helps us understand the power of prophetic utterance within us.

When you speak, you don’t just say something; it’s more than that. Speaking is always about doing something. When you speak, you don’t just describe the state of the world. You actually impact it through your words.

For example, saying “I will be there by 8:00 pm” does not just describe a situation. The speaker has already performed an action by generating a new reality about a future situation. You have declared what future would take place.

The Power of Prophetic Utterance

Language has an active nature. We have the power of prophetic performative utterance, which means we can declare the future into being. We can prophesy something and it can take place. It’s just a matter of knowing the language patterns you are using.

There are specific actions that are accompanied by spoken words. These actions had a direct influence on what happened and did not happen in the world. Said differently, they were actions because they acted upon the world to bring about a set of circumstances, and in so doing, created a new future.

Three Ways Language Becomes A Form of Action

There are three ways language is a form of action – locution, elocution, and perlocution.

Locution is the vocal act of uttering audible words and the meaning of these words for the speaker. When you say something, you don’t just make a sound, you actually attach meaning to your statements. Doing so is action in itself. Many words are a form of action and speaking of them is action in itself. This is what we can call “elocutionary force.” For example, if you ask a friend if he would like a cup of coffee, you have made an offer — an action. When you thank your mother for helping you out with some housework, you have engaged in declaring your gratitude — an action.

When we speak to impact on other’s listening, to produce effects, and to bring about changes in your circumstances — this is perlocution. It is the effect of speaking on the feelings, thoughts, and actions of others. While not likely to be world-changing in the effect, speaking impacted reality. For example, an offer of a cup of coffee makes that reality possible without the next person having to ask for one. The gratitude you have spoken opened the opportunity for your mother to be directly aware of your appreciation.

How Different Forms of Communication Changes Our Everyday World

In many small and subtle ways, and at times, profound ways, communication performs actions that bring about changes in our everyday worlds. This can also occur non-verbally, as various auditory and visual gestures have meaning in certain contexts as unspoken language. For example, making the noise “ssh” when requiring someone to be quiet; holding out an arm and pointing to a location in response to a question about where to place an item; frowning and sighing to express displeasure; raising a hand as a gesture of greeting while simultaneously involved in a conversation with someone else.

Thoughts to Ponder On

Can you describe the last time your words created actions? How do your words affect your reality? How does knowing your prophetic utterance can perform the creation of a new future affect you?