performative utterances

Performative utterances are statements that do not just describe a situation but actually *perform* an action through the act of speaking. For example, saying "I apologize" or "I promise" in the right context doesn't just describe an apology or promise; it *makes* it happen. These utterances are dependent on the context, speaker’s authority, and typical social conventions. When conditions are met, such statements bring about change simply through their spoken form, effectively doing what they say.