speech act

Linguistics of the Perfect Apology

Why do some apologies work while others fail spectacularly? An apology is a complex linguistic performance with its own "grammar,"…

3 weeks ago

The Calculus of Politeness

Ever wonder why we say "Could you possibly pass the salt?" instead of just "Pass the salt"? This isn't just…

3 weeks ago

When Did We Start Asking Questions?

Questions represent a monumental leap in human evolution, demanding a complex toolkit of intonation, syntax, and abstract words like "why."…

3 weeks ago

The Power of a Question: How Linguistic Manipulation Shapes Police Confessions

A confession can seem like the most straightforward form of evidence, but the language used to obtain it is incredibly…

3 weeks ago

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