John L. Austin (British philosopher)

John L. Austin was a British philosopher best known for his work on language and how we use words to do things, not just describe states of affairs. He introduced the idea of "speech acts," which are the actions performed through speaking—like promising, apologizing, or ordering. Austin showed that language is not only about conveying information but also about influencing others and performing actions in social contexts. His work helped deepen our understanding of everyday language use, highlighting that saying something can be as meaningful as doing something.