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The Mystery of Promise: Why Can "I Do" Create a Legal Marriage?
In human society and culture, the power of language is often underestimated. Language is not just a carrier of information for communication, it creates social reality in many ways. Especially in the legal field, certain words such as "I do" can become the legal cornerstone of marriage. This makes people think: What kind of mysterious power does the agreement that we value so much have?
"The power of language lies in its ability to directly affect our reality and thereby produce substantial changes."
The legal definition of marriage usually requires that both parties must express their wishes in a specific procedure. The most common form of this type of expression of intention is the "I do" vow. This sentence is not only a promise, it also marks the formation of a legal marriage relationship. Once this sentence is spoken, the identities, rights and responsibilities of both parties change.
The power of verbal behavior
The British philosopher John Austin (J.L. Austin) once proposed the theory of "verbal behavior". He believed that certain speech acts themselves have the ability to create results. This theory was discussed in detail in his book "How to Use Language". Austin believed that speech is not only a tool for describing facts, but can also be combined with social background and cultural conditions to form specific actions. He used the example of marriage vows to illustrate: "I do" is like this in actual cases. It is not only an expression of love, but also an action to complete the marriage relationship.
"What you have to say is what you have to do."
Legal "I do"
The fundamental principle of marriage law is consent. In most cultures, marriage is viewed as a contract, a legal relationship formed by a series of commitments between the parties. These promises are usually expressed in words at the wedding. The "I do" sentence legally represents the end of mutual consent, meaning they share the responsibility for family life and finances. The law therefore regards this as crucial to the formation of a marriage.
Performance in marriage
When we consider the formation process of marriage, we find that it is not only a simple legal procedure, but also involves multiple social and cultural levels. This fully demonstrates the concept of "performativity," a process of constructing identity and reality through repeated verbal acts and social rituals. As the philosopher Judith Butler points out, it is through this repetitive performance that identity is formed and maintained.
"Identity is not an intrinsic entity, but the accumulation of a series of behaviors and performance results."
Cultural and social dimensions
'I do' is not only an expression of personal emotion, but also a manifestation of culture. Marriage rituals and vows take different forms in different cultures, but essentially they confirm the connection and responsibility of two people. The cultural significance behind this ceremony affects people's role positioning and social identity in marriage.
Challenges and the future
The concept of marriage in today's society is changing, especially on issues such as gender and the definition of marriage. As people rethink gender and rights, the meaning of "I do" is also constantly evolving. In the face of social evolution, the law must also re-examine the definition and understanding of marriage. In the future, perhaps marriage will no longer be just a traditional binary relationship, but a more diverse and inclusive social structure.
"Can legal marriage change its meaning with social and cultural changes?"
Starting from the vow of "I do", marriage has become a legally recognized behavior. Behind this lies a profound understanding of language behavior. In this evolving society, can we further explore the profound connections between language and social behavior?
