Horitative

Horitative is a term used in linguistics to describe a grammatical mood or modality that expresses a strong command or authoritative instruction. It is distinct from other moods like the imperative, which can also convey commands but may vary in their degree of force or politeness. The horitative mood specifically implies a speaker who is in a position of authority and is issuing a directive that is expected to be followed without question.

This mood is not universally present across all languages. When it does occur, it often involves specific verb conjugations or auxiliary words that signal this authoritative intent. For example, a language might have a distinct horitative form of a verb meaning "to go" that is used by a commander to order a subordinate to depart. The precise linguistic mechanisms for expressing horitative vary significantly from one language to another.

The function of the horitative mood is to clearly communicate a command from a superior to an inferior. This can be seen in contexts such as military orders, parental instructions to children, or pronouncements by figures of authority. The use of the horitative mood emphasizes the speaker's power and the subordinate's obligation to comply with the directive. It is a direct and unambiguous way of conveying an order that brooks no argument.