The role of language in the perception of persons and groups

Language is found to influence various domains of social cognition and behavior. This chapter provides an overview of three functions of language in social cognition and highlights certain specific issues that exemplify the important role of language in our cognitive system and social life. First, the way in which language drives attention is analyzed, arguing that subtle differences in language use determine what the listeners will focus on, what will attract their attention, and also what they may overlook or ignore. Language guides and influences attention, inference and judgments, and imageries through embodiment of representations. Second, research showing that linguistic choices of the speaker affect inferences that the listener is likely to draw about the speaker as well as the object of the conversation is reviewed. Finally, taking an embodiment perspective, it is argued that our perception and imagery of social reality are, in a subtle manner, influenced by the way in which language is written.