Is "win" in "i win" a performative verb?

Question

when you say "i win" before or after you win a game. Is it a performative verb? If it's not why do you use it?

Answer 1

No.

"I win" describes the situation. It does not create the situation. That is, one doesn't win a game simply by saying "I win", not in any usual game. I suppose that if one player is the king, and the other is the court jester, when the king says "I win" then the king has won. Its good to be the king. That use would be performative , but usual uses would not be.

One says "I win" while playing a game to indicate that the speaker has now won. "I win" thus means the same as 'I have just won. In that sense it describes a state of things.

"I win" can also be a prediction. In that sense it is short for "The state of the game is such that I am sure to win."

Consider a game of chess. One player (perhaps white) can say "I win" just after checkmating the other player. Or white can say "I win" after making a move which ensures that white n force a mate, perhaps in 5 or 10 moves.

A performative verb is one where a person makes the satemetn true just by saying it.

If I person says:

You're trespassing, I order you to leave.

then "order" is performative. Just by saying it, it is true, the person has given that order.

Other examples:

• When a dictator says "I decree X" it is performative, that decree has been issued.
• When a minister or judge says "I now pronounce you man and wife" that ios performative. They have been so pronounced.
• When anyone says 'I promise to pay this loan" that is performative . The person has just mad that promise.
• When a person says "I agree to X" then by sayign that, the person has agreed. It is performative
• When a member of a town council says "I vote for Smith's proposal" it is performative . By saying that, the council member has voted.
• When a Judge says "I rule ..." it is performative; by saying that the judge has ruled.

In short when the verb describes making a statement or a decision, adn that of saying so makes it true, it is performative.

Moat of these cases can also apply to writing something down, when writing it makes it true. The judge may give a ruling, or the dictator make a decree, or anyone may make a promise, by writing it down.