by Rosa M. O’Connor Acevedo, PhD Candidate, Department of Philosophy

by Annie Ring, PhD Candidate, Department of Philosophy 

J.L. Austin’s How to Do Things with Words demonstrates that language is not just descriptive but in some cases is performative. That is, Austin’s speech act theory argues that language itself performs, changes, or does things in the world. Speech act theory classically considered institutions like marriage, where a pronouncement weds people into a legally binding relation, or boat christening, where naming and blessing a boat before the maiden voyage protects its passengers (Austin).

by W. Jamie Yang, PhD Candidate, Department of Sociology

by Min Young Park, PhD Candidate, Department of English

by Anu Sugathan, PhD Student, Department of English 

by Magela Baudoin, PhD Candidate, Department of Romance Languages

By Marena Fleites Lear, PhD Candidate, Department of Comparative Literature 

by Xiaobo Su, Professor, Department of Geography

by Lana Lopesi, Assistant Professor, Department of Indigenous, Race, and Ethnic Studies

by Isabel Millán, Assistant Professor, Department of Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies