énoncé

The term "énoncé" is a French word that translates to "statement," "utterance," or "declaration" in English. In linguistics, it refers to a specific instance of language use, a spoken or written expression that conveys a particular meaning in a given context. An énoncé can be a simple word, a phrase, a sentence, or even a longer discourse. It is distinguished from a sentence, which is an abstract grammatical unit, by being tied to its specific circumstances of production, including the speaker, the listener, the time, and the place.

The concept of énoncé is central to the theory of enunciation (théorie de l'énonciation), which studies how language is used by individuals to express themselves and their subjective experiences. This theory emphasizes the act of speaking or writing as a social and psychological event, where the speaker or writer actively constructs meaning through their choice of words, tone, and grammatical structures. The énoncé, therefore, is not just a linguistic form but also a manifestation of the speaker's presence, intentions, and perspective.

In philosophy and logic, "énoncé" can also refer to a proposition, a declarative sentence that asserts a fact and can be judged as true or false. This usage aligns with the idea of a statement that presents a claim or an assertion about the world. Regardless of the specific field, the core idea of an énoncé revolves around a concrete piece of language that carries meaning within a particular communicative or logical framework.