speech act: Meaning and Definition of

speech' act"

Pronunciation: [key]
— Philos., Ling. Philos.,Ling.
  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.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.