How to Do Things with Words

by J. L. Austin, J. O. Urmson (Editor)

Overview

In this seminal series of lectures by the noted British philosopher, J.L. Austin explores the profound ways in which language is not just a vehicle for conveying information but also a tool for performing actions. He introduces the concept of the performative utterance -- later called dubbed a speech-act -- which are utterances that not only convey meaning but also have the power to bring about changes in the world. The book also delves into the complexities of language, meaning, and context, highlighting how linguistic conventions and social norms shape our understanding of words. Austin's work challenges conventional views on language, emphasizing that words have the power to do things and not just describe things.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781648373947
Publisher:	Echo Point Books
Publication date:	05/09/2025
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	178
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

J. L. Austin was a British philosopher of language.

Table of Contents

• Lecture I
• Lecture II
• Lecture III
• Lecture IV
• Lecture V
• Lecture VI
• Lecture VII
• Lecture VIII
• Lecture IX
• Lecture X
• Lecture XI
• Lecture XII

Editorial Reviews

Austin had an extraordinarily keen ear for the subtleties of English and a remarkable sensitivity to the aptness of one expression as opposed to another in a given linguistic situation. To read him is not only a pleasure; it is also to learn much about English and to gain a new respect for its proper use.

The Massachusetts Review

Immensely worth reading…What is made available here is a choice work by one of the most acute and original minds that England has produced in our time…The myth that Oxford philosophers in general, and Austin in particular, do nothing but examine the details of ordinary linguistic usage should be exploded once and for all by this new book.

Times Literary Supplement