Performative acts

Performative acts refer to actions or statements that do not just convey information but actually bring about a change or effect in reality. For example, when someone says, "I apologize," the act of saying those words can create a new relational dynamic between people. This concept, often discussed in philosophy and linguistics, suggests that language and actions can perform an action just by being expressed, rather than just describing a state of affairs. In essence, performative acts create meaning and influence situations through their very articulation.