Noun
the use of language to perform some act
Source: WordNetThe assertion fallacy ... is the fallacy of confusing the conditions for the performance of the speech act of assertion with the analysis of the meaning of particular words occurring in certain assertions. John Searle
[interpersonal meaning] embodies all use of language to express social and personal relations, including all forms of the speaker's intrusion into the speech situation and the speech act. Michael Halliday
Analysis using Searle's theory In order to generalize this sketch of an indirect request, Searle proposes a program for the analysis of indirect speech act performances, whatever they are. Source: Internet
A speech act in linguistics and the philosophy of language is an utterance that has performative function in language and communication. Source: Internet
Genre The kind of speech act or event; for the example used here, the kind of story. Source: Internet
If Pierre takes a second bite, it is not caused by his pleasure from the first; If Pierre says, "That was good, so I will take another bite", his speech act is not caused by the preceding pleasure. Source: Internet