Language is more than a tool for description—it is an instrument of action. When we speak or write, we often do so not just to inform, but to get something: attention, compliance, agreement, goods, services, or even emotional responses.
The Functional View of Language
Linguists and philosophers like J.L. Austin and John Searle introduced the concept of speech acts—the idea that saying something can itself be doing something. For example, saying “I promise” isn’t just reporting a promise; it is the act of promising.
In everyday life, we constantly use language to:
- Request (“Could you pass the salt?”)
- Persuade (“You should really try this restaurant.”)
- Negotiate (“If I do the dishes, will you take out the trash?”)
- Assert authority (“Stop right there!”)
- Build relationships (“I’m so glad you’re here.”)
Language as a Social Tool
The phrase “when language is used to get” points to its pragmatic function—how words serve real-world purposes beyond literal meaning. This perspective is central to fields like pragmatics, sociolinguistics, and discourse analysis.
Understanding this helps us become more effective communicators—and more critical consumers of messages in advertising, politics, and media.
Further Reading
- Speech Acts – Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
- Linguistic Society of America
- Austin, J. L. (1962). How to Do Things with Words.