Exhortativas

Exhortativas is a term used in linguistics and rhetoric to refer to utterances whose primary aim is to exhort, urge, encourage, or persuade someone to act, think, or adopt a certain attitude. These statements convey a force beyond simple factual information, seeking to motivate a change in behavior or belief. The concept encompasses a range of forms across languages, including direct commands, inclusive propositions, wishes, and warnings that carry a motivational intention.

In practice, exhortative discourse can take several syntactic shapes. It may appear as an imperative or imperative-like construction, such as commands or invitations: “Vamos ao cinema,” “Faça isso agora.” It can also express encouragement or collective action with inclusive forms: “Vamos juntos,” “Encaremos o desafio.” Additionally, optative or subjunctive-leaning constructions can express wishes or hopes: “Que você tenha sucesso,” “Que tudo corra bem.” Exhortativas can be direct, addressed to a specific listener, or indirect, embedded in a broader argument or sermon. They are common in religious, political, educational, and motivational contexts where shaping behavior or attitudes is the goal.

Etymologically, the term derives from the Latin exortare, meaning to urge or encourage. In grammar and rhetoric, exhortativas are studied for their illocutionary force—the intent behind the words—rather than for mere propositional content. Some languages mark exhortation with specific moods or particles; in others, the force is conveyed through context and verb form. Exhortativas play a prominent role in public speaking, moral instruction, and civic discourse, where urging action or compliance is central.