In this article, based on Vygotsky's writings, we propose an epistemological shift in the study of self-talk in sport. To do this, we identify the characterizing elements of self-talk, i.e. the situation, the subject and the words, and formalize their properties and relationships using the theories of Vygotsky and contemporary authors (Rabardel, Pastré, Clot, Vergnaud and Friedrich). This work of conceptualization leads us to define self-talk as an instrumental act that is part of a mediating activity, in other words a situated, embodied and dynamic phenomenon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]