The Functions of Language Intentional and Unintentional Communication

The Functions of Language - Intentional and Unintentional Communication EDL 1201 Linguistics for the Language Teacher

Discussions about the functions of language l Chomsky says it is what might be called as the ‘human essence’. l Corder states that ‘too complex to be defined’ l Cook states it as ‘the heart of human life’ l Poole defines it as “the faculty for communication by speech sounds, is a universal characteristic of the human race’

l Many linguists have defined it as: l - by which man communicates l - a system of communication l - for the purposes of communication and many others which serves the many needs of humans.

What are the functions of language? l To communicate l To maintain good or bad relations with others (make small talk/ negative functions) l To entertain (amusing ourselves & others) l To inform/ passing on information (Trask & Mayblin 2002)

Language as means of Communication l Pit Corder states that we have to make a distinction between ‘intentional’ and ‘unintentional ‘ communication in order to understand what language is in communication. l Intentional comm. l Unintentional comm.

Intentional comm. That is to convey messages through speech acts, or non speech acts. l There is the intent to really pass on some information, like giving a speech, a lecture, a talk, or merely talking to others. l Walking, for instance, can be termed as communicating intentionally. How? l “She flounced out off the room and slammed the door. ” l

Unintentional comm. Corder gives the example of – if we see a friend walking - unobserved by him, within fairly broad limits, we may be able to draw some conclusions about him. About what? l His walk tells us something about him– his state of mind or health, for instance. l But, no one would suggest that he is walking that way, in order to communicate with us? ? l What does this tell us? l

unintentional comm. 2 All our behaviour, in some measure is communicative – receiver learns smthg, even tho the sender has no speific intention to comm. l So, as to conclude – behaviour is informative and communicative.

Unintentional comm 3 As we can tell someone from her walk, we can as well gain info from someone’s else voice. We can infer certain things from a person’s voice. l By the tone of voice – we can tell if a person is excited, angry, or tired. l What about disguising one’s voice? – to mislead? l Conclusion – all human behaviour can be informative, and can be a mode of communication. l

So, the distinction? l The distinction between intentional and unintentional communication lies in the sender’s mind. l The distinction between ‘being informed’ and ‘not being informed’ lies in the receiver’s mind.

2 nd distinction? Is between linguistic and non linguistic communication l Trying to establish communication with a friend. l Linguistically – one may wave and then say “Hey Bob, come here a moment. ” l Non-linguistically – making an ill articulated sound and then some actions, which in convention is agreeable to both sender and receiver, means the same as above. l

Is there a distinction? linguists state that the distinction is unclear l Writing is also linguistically communicative and intentional, but it is not verbal l We use ‘coughs’, ‘shouts’, ‘yawns’ and a wide range of other vocal signals, but few linguists would regard that as ‘linguistic’. l But what all linguists agree on, is the presence of the human cognitive aspect. l

Communication and Meaning Humans can communicate intentionally by other than linguistic means. l – our posture, walk, tone of voice, gesture, our manner of walking, dressing and eating can mean something to others. l But, it has to have the conventional element to it to be accepted and understood by others. l Eg – behaviour like – ‘liking someone’, ‘angry’, other emotions. (how do show disliking, envy, etc. ) l

Humans live in a society, and there are behaviours that we learned in our society and acceptable and understood specifically in that society group. This is what it means by having a conventional element in it. l For example- a tired walk: there is an accepted way of walking which means tired. l What about ‘like’? or ‘embarrassed’? ‘shy’? – probably all our behavior has a conventional element in them. l

Behaviour to communicate l Any deliberate manipulation of bodily behaviour is called ‘paralinguistics’. l These includes – gestures, posture, facial expressions, and the tempo, pitch, and quality of speech. l Exploiting both speech and paralinguistics would mean a clearer communication can be established.

What is communicated? Traditionally it is ‘Thought’, or ‘expressing our thoughts’. . l But that is not its only function. Language can be used to communicate beliefs, opinions or perceptions, small talk, etc. l However, a bit of language cannot be taken out of context, in isolation from the situation and context it is made. Eg. “I love you. ” – means so many things if taken out of context, can be misunderstood. l

Further readings l Finegan, Chapt 1, pp. 18 -31 l Read also on the ‘properties of the human language’.