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Our words affect reality in many different ways. We use language to communicate information, express feelings, and give instructions, but also to lie, denigrate, and silence. The philosophy of language is concerned with identifying and investigating the mechanisms that allow us to do such things. This course offers an introduction to some of the central questions in this field. In the first unit, we will introduce key concepts in the philosophy of language through the study of five classic authors: Bertrand Russell, Saul Kripke, David Kaplan, Paul Grice, and J. L. Austin. In the second unit, we will explore how these ideas extend to other areas of philosophy, discussing questions such as: How does language represent reality? Is there any difference between saying false things and lying? What does it mean to say that some words are racist or sexist? In what sense can truth be relative?