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Lecture Seven

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Lecture Seven

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kheria1966sebahi
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Mila university Center

Linguistics third year


Teacher: Dr. BENNACER Fouzia

Lecture Seven: Functions of Language

Introduction

In linguistics, the functionalist school approaches language in terms of the functions it performs,

associated with the Prague School, the approach has been concerned with the way elements in a

particular language accomplish these functions.

R. Jakobson, a structural linguist, defined six functions of language when it is put for the purpose

of communication (Communication Functions):

 The referential function (informational function): it is a kind of language used to give or

ask for information, it is neutral and objective; no feelings and emotions are involved.

e.g. "The autumn leaves have all fallen now."

The distance between the university and the city centre is 03KM

 The emotive function: it is a kind of language through which speakers express themselves,

whether a person is experiencing feelings of happiness, sadness, grief or otherwise. It is

best exemplified by interjections e.g. "Wow, what a view!", and other expressions such as

I think, I believe, as fa as I am concerned…

 The conative function: it is a kind of language used to convince the listener. It engages

the Addressee (receiver) directly and is best illustrated by imperatives, e.g. "Tom! Come

inside and eat!"

 The metalingual (alternatively called "metalinguistic" or "reflexive") function: is the use

of language to check whether what has been said is comprehensible. Such expressions

like: is it OK? Are you following? Can I go on? Are expressions of the metalingual

function.
Mila university Center
Linguistics third year
Teacher: Dr. BENNACER Fouzia

 The phatic function: is language for the sake of interaction. It can be observed in

greetings and casual discussions of the weather, particularly with strangers. It also

provides the keys to open, maintain, verify or close the communication channel:

"Hello?", "Ok?", "Hummm", "Bye"...in the phatic function, it is not what one says that

matters but the fact of saying it. Some linguists call it ‘sweet-nothing’; it is nothing in

meaning but it is sweet in terms of human relations, some others call it ‘small talk’ and

other ‘empty talk’. Remarks about the weather, in the British culture, are a good example

 The poetic function: it is a kind of language used to show the aesthetic (beautiful) side of

the language, it focuses on the message for its own sake. Prose and poetry are good

examples.

Besides, Jackobson suggested that each speech event (piece of communication) should have:

1. The addresser: the speaker

2. The addressee: the listener

3. The message: it is sent from the addresser to the addressee

4. The context: the message must be sent in an appropriate context

5. The contact: there should be a relation between the addresser and the addressee

6. The code: it could be oral, written.

Jackobson related the six factors to the six functions. If communication is much going with

contact, the function of language that is dominated is the phatic function. If communication if

directed to the listener, the function of language that is dominated isthe conative function. If

communication is to check whether the addressee and the addresser are following the same code,

the function of language that is dominated isthe metalingual function. If communication


Mila university Center
Linguistics third year
Teacher: Dr. BENNACER Fouzia

concerns more the addresser, the function of language that is dominated isthe emotive function.

however, sometimes we can not determine which function dominates a speech event e.g.

I feel like a cup of tea: it can be the emotive function

It can be the phatic function

It can be the poetic function

In addition, Halliday distinguished three distinctive functions of language (or

metafunctions). The ideational (or experiential), The textual function, The interpersonal

function.

 The ideational (or experiential) function is the conveying of semantic content

representing information about our experience of the external world (including our own

minds).

 The textual function is the linking of linguistic elements to other linguistic elements, so

that the various parts of a text can be integrated into a coherent and cohesive whole and

related to the wider context of our speech or writing.

 The interpersonal function is the establishment and maintenance of social relations,

including persuading other people to do things or to believe things.

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