However, though it may be true that in some cases to "say something is to do something," one thing we cannot do with words is change reality. I say this because sometimes people act as as if words can change reality. For example, we are often told that in the case of individuals who identify as transgender we must use those pronouns appropriate to the "gender identity" that individual claims. Thus, if someone is biologically male but "gender identifies" as female, we must--so it is asserted--use feminine pronouns to refer to that individual. However, in fact, using feminine pronouns does not make that individual female. The reality is that the individual remains a male. Likewise, just saying that "trans women are women," does not make the statement true. The words we use cannot magically change a man into a woman, or vice versa--no matter how much some people might wish it were so.
We can also see this idea--that words can change reality--at work in the area of international relations. For example, the government of the People's Republic of China asserts that the island of Taiwan is merely a province of China, not a separate country. It insists on the rest of the world referring to Taiwan as a province or region of China. And yet, how many provinces (or states or regions) of a country have their own military, conduct their own foreign policy, and control immigration into their territory? These are things only an independent country can do. Moreover, Taiwan has never been under the actual control of the People's Republic of China. Just asserting that Taiwan is "part of China" doesn't magically change reality--despite what the Chinese government may think.
In short, while it may be true, as Austin argues, that sometimes we can "do things with words," changing reality is not one of them. This is something that people--and governments--would do well to remember.
Image of J.L. Austin from Wikipedia