Language functions: what they are, characteristics and elements

We explain what the functions of language are and the characteristics of each of them. In addition, we explain the elements of communication on which they focus.

The functions of language are the different objectives for which verbal language is used.

What are the functions of language?

The functions of language They are the different objectives with which verbal language is used, whether in its spoken or written variant.Each of these functions responds to a specific intention that one has when interacting with others. Therefore, it is related to one of the so-called “elements of communication”, which are the sender, the receiver, the channel, the code and the message.

For example, if the communicative purpose is to ask another person to do something or stop doing something, the language will necessarily focus on the receiver. The same is true for the rest of the functions of language.

The definition and enumeration of the functions of language is a topic that has been addressed by linguists and language theorists. Among them, the Russian scholar Roman Jackobson (1896-1982) stands out, who proposed the existence of six basic functions:

• Referential or informative function. It focuses on the content of the message. For example: “That is an apple.”
• Appellative or conative function. It is focused on the recipient of the message. For example: “Can I have an apple, please?”
• Emotive or expressive function. It is focused on the sender of the message. For example: “I love apples.”
• Phatic or relational function. It focuses on the channel of transmission of the message. For example: “Did you hear when I said that I love apples?”
• Metalinguistic function. It focuses on the code of the message. For example: “How do you say apple in French?”
• Poetic or aesthetic function. It is focused on both the code and the message. For example: “That apple is red like spilled blood.”

These functions are not mutually exclusive, as several may occur simultaneously in the same text or speech. However, one of them normally predominates over the others and is therefore perceived more clearly.

Referential or informative function

The referential or informative function of language is that which aims to provide information about an aspect of realitythat is, about a specific referent. Therefore, it focuses on the content of the message transmitted or, depending on how you look at it, on the referent about which you want to say something. For example: “This city was founded in 1536” or “Ants are six-legged arthropods.”

Their most frequent sentences are of an enunciative or declarative type.and is usually the predominant function in pedagogical, informative or objective texts, such as newspaper articles, encyclopedias, school books or scientific articles. It is also the dominant function in explanations, reports and teachings.

Expressive or emotive function

The expressive or emotive function of language is that which is intended to transmit the emotional state of the sender or his subjective appreciation about something at a particular moment. Therefore, it focuses on the sender of the message and his inner world. For example: “I love it when people give me flowers!”

Many times, this function It is expressed through exclamatory sentences and interjectionssuch as “Oh!” or “How beautiful!”. It is also the dominant function in opinions, personal comments, expressions of displeasure, declarations of love, and in certain songs and poems.

Appellative or conative function

The appellative or conative function of language It is one that seeks to influence the receiver, that is, to push him to act in a specific way.whether it is to complete a task, respond to a comment, or tell what you did last night. That is why you should always focus on the recipient of the message. For example: “Can you tell me what you did yesterday at school?” or “Please pass me the pencil.”

This is the predominant function in all questionssince they normally expect a response from the interlocutor. The same occurs in imperative sentences, in which an order or request is given to the other person. Often, both things can coincide, as in: “Could you close the window?”

Finally, the appellative or conative function can be found in texts of instructions, signs or prohibitions, and even in questionnaires and forms.

Phatic or relational function

The phatic or relational function of language is the one that tries to verify that the communication channel is free and available to start communication or resume it after a pause. Therefore, it always focuses on the communication channel, which is the physical medium through which the message is transmitted.

This function is put into practice, for example, when answering the phone and saying “Hello?” or “Aló?”. These greeting formulas are really intended to indicate to the interlocutor that the communication channel is open and that they can begin transmitting their message.

The same thing happens in person with expressions like “excuse me” or “please”, used to capture the interlocutor’s attention and thus initiate communication. Expressions like “ok”, “uh-huh” or “sure” also serve this purpose, which we usually use to accompany the other person’s speech to indicate that we are paying attention and that the communication channel remains active.

The phrases and interjections used for this purpose have no real meaning in themselves, meaning their meaning is entirely relational.

Metalinguistic function

The metalinguistic function of language is that which proposes to say something about language itselfsuch as defining a term or clarifying an ambiguity. It occurs when language is used to talk about itself, so it is a function centered on the code of communication. For example: “The word ‘beautiful’ is synonymous with ‘beautiful’.”

This function of language is the one that predominates in texts about language, such as dictionary entries, grammatical explanations and linguistic studies. It is also present in explanations given to an interlocutor who does not know a word used or who is trying to find a common language to understand each other.

In general, the metalinguistic function It appears in all situations in which attention must be paid to the communicative code. For this reason, it is also used when someone is asked to explain the meaning or sense of a word: “What does ‘desalination’ mean?” or “How do you say ‘passion fruit’ in English?”

Poetic or aesthetic function

The poetic function of language is that which allows the use of language in an artistic, playful or original wayIn this sense, it emphasizes not only the message transmitted, but above all the way in which the code is used, and, sometimes, the emotionality of the sender himself.

This is the most complex function of all, since, unlike the rest, it does not have a practical and defined purpose. That is to say, Language is used as a form of entertainment or as a source of aesthetic pleasureFor example, the verses of the Chilean poet Pablo Neruda (1904-1973): “It is a stormy morning / in the heart of summer. / Like white handkerchiefs of farewell the clouds travel, / the wind shakes them with its traveling hands.”

Literary works, jokes, proverbs, tongue twisters, songs and other forms of enunciation in which rhetorical and stylistic figures are used are cases in which the poetic function of language predominates.

Other approaches to the functions of language

Although Roman Jackobson’s perspective on language functions is the best known, most widely disseminated and most widely used, there are other approaches to this topic. In fact, Jackobson himself based his formulations on the earlier work of the German psychologist and linguist Karl Bühler (1879-1963), who He recognized only three functions of language: representative, expressive and appellative..

Similarly, the Australian linguist and philosopher Michael Halliday (1925-2018), creator of systemic functional grammar, questioned Jackobson’s view in his book Language as social semiotics (1978). In it, He proposed three metafunctions of language as an alternative:

• Ideative function. It is that which acts as a mediator between the speaker and reality, thus allowing him to structure, determine and understand the world around him.
• Interpersonal function. It is that which sustains social relations and allows the speaker to identify and express the different social roles played.
• Textual function. It is that which acts on the language itself and on the two previous functions, allowing the cohesion of the texts and their adaptation to the context in which they are presented.

For their part, the British philosopher JL Austin (1911-1960) and the American professor John Searle (1932-), proponents of the theory of speech acts, proposed another alternative to Jackobson’s functions. According to these authors, it is not appropriate to speak of functions, but of language activities. In their case, They identified three main activities:

• Locutionary activityIt consists of the pronunciation of what has been said, that is, in proposing a statement of any type, at three different levels: phonetic (sounds), phatic (grammar) and rhetical (the general meaning).
• Illocutionary activity. Add a purpose to the previous activity, that is, an intention linked to psychological, moral or social aspects, such as ensuring something, asking something or ordering something, among other possibilities.
• Perlocutionary activity. Incorporates in the above the effect that language causes in the interlocutor, that is, their reactions and consequences, which would be determined by their internal configuration: their emotions, their inner world or their beliefs, among other aspects.

Follow with:

References

• Jakobson, R. (1984). Essays on general linguistics. (Trans. J. Cabanes). Ariel.
• Pelayo, N. (2001). Language and communication. Basic concepts, general theoretical aspects, characteristics, structure, nature and functions of language and communication. The Books of El Nacional.
• Todorov, T. and Ducrot, O. (2005). Encyclopedic Dictionary of Language Sciences. XXI century.