speech act

noun

Philosophy, Linguistics.

1. any of the acts that may be performed by a speaker in making an utterance, as stating, asking, requesting, advising, warning, or persuading, considered in terms of the content of the message, the intention of the speaker, and the effect on the listener.

speech act

noun

1. an utterance that constitutes some act in addition to the mere act of uttering

2. an act or type of act capable of being so performed