FUNCTIONS OF LANGUAGE POLI PAUL ROLL 25 B

FUNCTIONS OF LANGUAGE POLI PAUL ROLL -25 B. ED 1 ST SEMESTER UNIVERSITY BT & EVENING COLLEGE

INTRODUCTION Language is the method of human communication , either spoken or written, consisting of the use of words in a structured and conventional way. JAKOBSON’S FUNCTIONS OF LANGUAGE Roman Jakobson defined six functions of language. According to Jakobson any act of verbal communication is composed of six factors. such as (a) a context (b) an addresser (c) an addressee (d) a contact between a sender and receiver (e) a common code (f) a message.

The Referential function : The referential function is oriented toward the context that provide some information. (e. g. water boils at 100 degrees) The Emotive function : The emotive function is oriented toward the addresser and that express the speaker’s feeling. (e. g. I feel sad) The conative function : The conative function engages the addressee directly and is best illustrated by imperatives(e. g. “Tom! Come inside and eat!”) The phatic function : The phatic function serves to establish, prolong or discontinue communication (e. g. ‘Hello’, ‘ok’, ‘bye’). The metalingual function: The metalingual function is used to establish mutual agreement on the code to discuss or describe it self(e. g. a definition) The poetic function : The poetic function puts the focus on the message for its own sake and focus on aesthetic features of language.

Halliday’s 7 functions of Language Instrumental : Language used to fulfill a need on the part of the speaker. ( e. g. “ I want a pen”) Regulatory : It is used for controlling the behaviour of others (e. g. “ Do what I say”) Interactional function : It is used for getting among with other people (e. g. “ You and me will go”) Personal : It is used for identifying and expressing the self (e. g. “ Here I come ) Heuristic function : It is used for exploring the world around and inside one (e. g. “ Tell me why”. ) Imaginative : It is used for creating a world of one’s own. (e. g. “ Let’s pretend”. ) Informative : It is used for communicating new information (e. g. “ I have something to say you ”. )

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