Language functions

Content

• Uses of the referential function
• Uses of the expressive or emotional function
• Uses of the appellate function
• Uses of the metalinguistic function
• Uses of the poetic function
• Examples of phatic function

The Language functions they represent the different objectives and purposes that are given to language when communicating.

Linguists studied the way we speak and found that all languages ​​change their form and function depending on the purpose for which they are used.

According to the Russian linguist Roman Jackobson, the functions of language are six:

• Referential or informative function. It focuses on the referent and the context since it is the function used to transmit objective information about everything that surrounds us: objects, people, facts, etc. For example: More and more people are moving to the suburbs.
• Emotional or expressive function. It focuses on the issuer as it aims to communicate their inner state (emotional, subjective, etc.). For example: I am very angry with you.
• Appellate or conative function. It focuses on the receiver since it seeks to transmit an instruction, a request or something that it hopes for in response. For example: Turn in the homework, please.
• Metalinguistic function. It focuses on the language code as it seeks encoding of the transmitted message. It is the ability of language to explain itself. For example: Numeral adjectives are those that provide information about the amount in which a noun appears.
• Poetic or aesthetic function. It focuses on the message as it uses language for contemplative, reflective or aesthetic purposes. For example: I look for you on every corner in every town, but I don't know if it's a nightmare or a dream.
• Phatic or relational function. It focuses on the communication channel since it intends to corroborate whether communication is being transmitted correctly and fluently. For example: It sounds good?

Uses of the referential function

1. By transmitting verifiable knowledge. For example. 2 + 2 equals 4
2. By counting objective events that happened. For example: I arrived in Argentina in August 2014.
3. By reporting an event as it occurs. For example. Ma'am, your scarf fell off.
4. When noting the state of something. For example: We ran out of potatoes.
5. By announcing some series of events to come. For example: I'll pick you up at the train station tomorrow.

• See also: Referential function examples

Uses of the expressive or emotional function

1. By using a literal nonsense expression. For example: I'm deathly hot.
2. When communicating pain with a spontaneous reaction. For example: Oh!
3. By confessing our feelings towards others. For example: Blessed are the eyes!
4. By asking us questions without waiting for an answer. For example: Why me?

• See also: Examples of emotional function

Uses of the appellate function

1. When asking for information about something. For example: Can you tell me the time, please?
2. By asking for a reaction in others. For example: Would you let me pass?
3. By giving a direct order. For example: Eat all the food!
4. When requesting a service. For example: The check, please!

• See also: Examples of appellate function

Uses of the metalinguistic function

1. When asking about something that was not understood. For example: Who are you talking about?
2. By not knowing the name of a concept. For example: What is the name of the device that you brought the other day?
3. By not knowing the meaning of a word. For example: What is that puerperium, Maria?
4. When explaining to a foreigner some question about our language. For example: In Peru we say "It's going to rain" as a form of playful threat.
5. By explaining grammar rules to someone. For example: I, you, he… are pronouns, not articles.

• See also: Examples of metalinguistic function

Uses of the poetic function

1. When formulating tongue twisters, whose only discursive function is the challenge of being able to say them. For example: Erre con erre cigar, erre con erre barrel.
2. By using turns from the popular song. For example: Whoever goes to Seville loses his chair.
3. When reciting a poem in a specific situation, just for the pleasure of hearing its beauty. For example: I need the sea because it teaches me: / I don't know if I learn music or consciousness: / I don't know if it's a wave alone or a deep one / or just a hoarse voice or dazzling / supposition of fish and ships. (verses by Pablo Neruda).
4. By using a stylistic expression to give emphasis or power to what we want to communicate. For example: Spring is gone with you.
5. When writing or reading a literary work.

• See also: Examples of poetic function

Examples of phatic function

• By starting a conversation and checking to see if it is heard. For example: Hello? Yes?
• By asking for clarification of something that we did not understand. For example: Ah? Hey?
• By communicating through a medium that requires certain codes, such as radio. For example: Over and out.
• When talking to another, to let them know that we pay attention. For example: Ok, aha.
• When talking on an intercom. For example: Hi? Say?

• See also: Examples of phatic function