Searle's speech act theory

Searle's speech act theory suggests that when we communicate, we're not just sharing information but also performing actions through our words. For example, saying "I apologize" is itself an act of apologizing, and saying "I promise" commits us to a future action. Different types of utterances—like statements, commands, or questions—serve different social functions. Searle emphasizes that language has a practical role in social interactions, enabling us to do things like request, commit, or declare, beyond merely conveying facts. This theory highlights the performative power of language in shaping social reality.