Which verbal operant is described as directly serving the speaker's needs?

The verbal operant that directly serves the speaker's needs is the mand. Mands are requests or demands that communicate a need or desire. For instance, when a person says "I want water," they are expressing a need for water, and the utterance is specifically aimed at obtaining that desired item. This operant is unique because it is reinforced by the fulfillment of the request, making it a powerful tool in communication.

In contrast, intraverbals involve responding to others in conversation without a direct need being addressed, while tacts involve labeling or describing things in the environment, and echoics simply involve repeating what someone else has said. Each of these serves different functions in communication, but mands are specifically distinguished by their direct connection to the speaker's needs and wants, emphasizing the intent behind the communication.