Definition & Bedeutung von "speech act"

What is a "speech act"?

A speech act is a communicative action that conveys meaning and performs a function through spoken or written language. It includes various types of actions, such as making a statement, asking a question, giving a command, or making a promise. For example, when someone says, "I apologize," they are not just stating something, but also performing the act of apologizing. Speech acts can be categorized into different types, including assertive for stating facts, directive for giving commands or requests, commissive for making promises, expressive for expressing feelings, and declarative for making declarations. Understanding speech acts is important in analyzing how language is used to achieve specific goals in communication.