The force of fictional discourse

Abstract Consider the opening sentence of Tolkien’s The Hobbit : (1) In a hole in ground there lived hobbit. By writing this sentence, Tolkien is making fictional statement . There are two influential views nature such statements. On pretense view, discourse amounts to pretend assertions. Since author not really asserting, but merely pretending, as devoid illocutionary force altogether. contrast, on alternative make-believe prescribes that reader content statement. paper, we argue neither these satisfactory. They both fail distinguish linguistic act creating fiction, for instance above, from reciting it, reading out loud your children. As an views, propose essential feature author’s speech its productive character, it makes some state affairs obtain fiction. statement, argue, has declaration.