John Langshaw Austin was a 20th century philosopher of language. His theory was based in the thought that speech is an action. That is, when we speak we are actually doing something, not just making assertions. When, in the altar, a bride says "I do", she is not just stating those words: She is getting married.
Journalists should be conscious of this notion. Words are not only utterances. They can be accusations, disclosures, prejudices. In a reporter's attributions, for instance, the verb is filled with meaning. It is not the same to write that somebody said something, than to affirm someone confessed, stated, or admitted something.
When we inform, we are acting. We can defame, we can mislead, or we can responsibly give people a tool to understand complex realities.
Nice observations, Maria.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Diane! We owe it to Austin...
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