Selected aspects of English linguistic studies: Magic words - how language affects reality 2510-f2ENG2W-ELN-MW

MAIN CONTENT MODULES

1. Performatives and Speech Acts
Core idea: Following Austin and Searle, many utterances do things rather than merely describe facts – e.g. “I promise,” “I name this ship,” “I hereby resign,” etc. The speech act framework analyzes how saying something can bring about changes in the world.

2. Indirect Acts, Politeness and “Social Currency”; Negotiation, Bribery, and Game-Theoretic Communication.
Language as exchange: In negotiations or strategic games, words trade one thing for another. This also goes for politeness; for example, Chaudhry & Loewenstein’s Responsibility Exchange Theory shows that "thanks" and "sorries" carry value: by apologizing or thanking, speakers trade credit and blame, and calibrate appearing competent vs. warm.

3. Language, Status and Group Identity
Accent and attitude: The way we speak signals who we are. Studies show listeners judge competence or status by accent/dialect: non-native or regional accents can trigger bias, while “standard” accents often seem more authoritative.

4. Language and Cognition
Inner speech and thinking: Building on philosophers of language and mind like Vygotsky and Clark, we explore how language augments thought. Following the research by Loftus, we will also see how the choice of expression influences memory and recall.

5. Language and Cumulative Culture
Cultural transmission: Language is the vehicle that preserves and builds knowledge across generations. Unlike other primates, humans accumulate innovations (“cultural ratchet”) precisely because we communicate them.

6. Language in the Age of AI
Large Language Models (LLMs): We examine how AI (e.g. ChatGPT, Bard) is using language to alter reality. LLMs can draft essays, answer questions, and even generate legal contracts or medical advice. This changes tasks in education, law, and many jobs.