J. L. Austin

Siobhan Chapman (University of Liverpool)

The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.2.1.09: English Writing and Culture: Postwar and Contemporary Britain , 1945-present.
Vol. editors: Gina Lyle (University of Glasgow), Graham MacPhee (University of Manchester), Kerry Myler (Birmingham Newman University), Jenni Ramone (The Nottingham Trent University)

Domains

Philosophy of Language
Theoretical Linguistics

Dates

Born 26 Apr 1911
Died 8 Feb 1960
Activity 1946-1960

Places

Born in England
Active in England

Activities

Primary

Philosopher

Resources

Austin's Works

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John Langshaw Austin, known both during and since his lifetime as J. L. Austin, was the leading figure in the generation of young philosophers at Oxford immediately after the Second World War, and a prominent proponent of “ordinary language philosophy”. In linguistics, he is best known for his work on “speech acts”.

Austin was born in Lancaster on 26 March 1911, but moved with his family to Scotland soon after the First World War when his father, returning from war service, abandoned his career as an architect and became Secretary of St. Leonard’s School in St. Andrews. Austin was a high academic achiever, winning scholarships in classics to Shrewsbury public school in 1924 and from there to Balliol College Oxford in 1929. He was awarded First Class honours in 1933 and was

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2676 words

Citation: Chapman, Siobhan. "J. L. Austin". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 03 October 2003; last revised 21 June 2021. [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=189, accessed 19 April 2024.]

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