Rethinking agency in language and society

Abstract

The notion of agency is typically understood as stemming from the goals and desires of human actors. This is an assumption that has been taken on board in the study of language in society as well. In this article, I point out the problems with this assumption as well as another: the tendency to downplay if not dismiss the roles of non-human entities. I argue that these points about agency carry serious implications for the study of language in society. It is undeniable that various technological advancements ranging from relatively simple computer programs to highly developed artificial intelligence (AI) are increasingly involved in our use of language for communication. These are cases where the human element is increasingly distant from the use of language for communicative purposes. They pose conceptual challenges for the study of language in society and require a willingness to rethink the nature of agency.