J. L. Austin

About

Developer of the theory of speech acts, which had previously been focused on statements, assertions, and propositions.

Before Fame

He attended Shrewsbury School and Balliol College, Oxford, with classical scholarships at both institutions.

Trivia

His famous published works included How to Do Things with Words, which led to his friendship with Noam Chomsky.

Family Life

He married Jean Courts Austin in 1941.

Associated With

He and Ludwig Wittgenstein were two of the most influential figures in post-World War II Anglo-American linguistic philosophy.