How Can Words Change the World? Performative Language

Summary

In this episode of 'The Ling Space,' Moti Lieberman explores the magic of language and its ability to shape reality through performative speech acts. These utterances, such as 'You're under arrest' or 'I now pronounce you married,' don’t just describe situations—they actively alter them. The episode delves into how language, backed by cultural repetition and context, can influence memory, create binding contracts, and transform perceptions. From ancient oaths to modern legal declarations, Lieberman explains how words carry the power to change the world, drawing on psychological experiments and linguistic theory to demonstrate the profound impact of our speech.

Takeaways

• 😀 Performative utterances are statements that do more than describe—they change reality, much like magic.
• 😀 Language has the power to alter people's perceptions and social circumstances, such as when a police officer says 'You're under arrest.'
• 😀 Some speech acts, like marriage vows or declarations of war, need formal backing (like paperwork) to be fully effective.
• 😀 In ancient Greece, people swore oaths to deities to make promises binding, similar to modern legal contracts.
• 😀 Phrases like 'I swear to God' or 'as God is my witness' are modern remnants of the performative power of language.
• 😀 A promise, such as 'I promise to stay in Fillory until the end', alters the expectations of others and changes the social reality.
• 😀 J.L. Austin's theory divides language into three parts: locution (the words), illocution (the intention), and perlocution (the effect).
• 😀 A simple sentence like 'Do you have the time?' involves locution, illocutionary purpose, and a perlocutionary effect (the stranger telling the time).
• 😀 Repetition and social conventions make certain performative speech acts powerful, like the phrase 'I now pronounce you married.'
• 😀 Word choice can influence memory and perception, as shown by experiments where changing a verb affected people's recollection of events.

Q & A

What is the central theme of the video script?

The central theme of the script is about the power of language, particularly how certain utterances (performative speech acts) can change reality, much like magic. It explores how language can transform situations, shape memory, and influence actions.

What is the difference between descriptive and performative utterances?

Descriptive utterances describe a situation, such as 'Quentin washed his hands.' Performative utterances, however, change the situation they describe, like when a police officer says 'You’re under arrest,' which actually makes the arrest happen.

How are performative utterances like magic?

Performative utterances are like magic because, like a spell, they alter the reality they describe. Saying the right words at the right time can transform situations, such as declaring someone married or proclaiming a new monarch.

What role does documentation play in performative speech acts?

While some performative speech acts rely on the words alone (like wedding vows), others require documentation to be fully effective, such as a passport to prove citizenship. In earlier times, however, words alone could bind people to promises.

How did people in ancient Greece use oaths in relation to performative utterances?

In ancient Greece, oaths often involved swearing by gods, making verbal promises publicly binding. These oaths were taken seriously, and breaking them could lead to severe consequences, similar to breaking the law today.

Why is repetition important for performative utterances?

Repetition is key because performative utterances work as conventions within specific cultural contexts. Words like 'I now pronounce you married' carry weight because they have been repeated over time and are understood within that culture.

What is the three-part structure of language as proposed by J.L. Austin?

J.L. Austin's three-part structure of language includes: 1) 'Locution' – the words themselves, 2) 'Illocutionary force' – what the speaker means or intends, and 3) 'Perlocutionary effect' – the impact those words have on the listener or the world.

How does word choice affect memory, according to the experiments discussed?

Word choice can significantly affect how people remember events. In the experiments, using verbs like 'smashed' instead of 'contacted' led participants to recall higher speeds and even non-existent details, such as broken glass, demonstrating the power of language to influence memory.

What does the use of language in the experiments about car accidents show about how speech can alter perception?

The experiments show that language not only influences how we remember events but can also alter our perception of them. The verb used (e.g., 'smashed' vs. 'hit') impacted participants' recollection of details like speed and even the presence of broken glass, illustrating how language shapes memory.

What are some real-world examples of performative speech acts?

Real-world examples of performative speech acts include saying 'I now pronounce you married' at a wedding, declaring war, or making a promise. These utterances don't just describe a situation but actively bring about a change in the world.