WEEK 6-WEEK 7 Three Basic Functions of Language

1. Informative language function

Logicians are chiefly concerned with language
(Informative discourse)
used informatively- in affirming or denying
The Informative language function is the most
propositions, formulating arguments, evaluating
important because it is responsible for describing
arguments, and so on. Many other purposes are also
things and delivering messages that provide readers
served by language, however, and its informative
or listeners with new information. Here
use may be better understood when contrasted with
“information” includes false as well as true
other uses.
propositions, bad arguments as well as good ones.
One of the most influential philosophers of the Additionally, the most informative uses of language
twentieth century, Ludwig Wittgestein, insisted are declarative statements.
rightly (in Philosophical Investigations, 1953) that
Example:
there are countless different kinds of use of what we
A. Newly-registered DYCIan nurses led by
call, ‘symbols’, ‘words’, ‘sentences.
Nikka T. Parulan, RN, Board Topnotcher No.
3 of the November 2022 Nursing Licensure
Informal Logic Examination.
B. School of Mechanical Engineering
Informal logic is an attempt to build a logic suited to students passed the concluded Board
real-life contexts. It combines accounts of argument, examination this February 2023.
evidence, proof and justification with an instrumental
outlook emphasizing their usefulness in analyzing 2. Emotive/Expressive language function:
real-life arguments. (therefore receptive)
Logic is a way of analyzing and evaluating The speaker speaks to express their feelings,
arguments that can be applied in reflection, inquiry, thoughts, and ideas. Poetry and literature are
social and political debate, the news media, blogs and
among the best examples; ordinary language
editorials, the internet, advertising, corporate and
institutional communication, social media, and discourse expresses emotions, feelings or attitudes.
interpersonal exchange (Stanford Encyclopedia of
Philosophy, 2021). Language serves as expressive discourse
when it used to vent feelings, or to evoke them.
II. Language and Its Application
Sorrow express when we say “What a pity!”
In general, language is the means of human
Enthusiasm we express when we say. ”That’s really
communication, either spoken or written, which
great!”. Passion is expressed in the private words of
consists of the organized and conventional use of
lovers; awe and wonder is expressed in prayers. Lyric
words. On the other hand, in terms of logic, language
poetry furnishes some of the best examples of
has an indefinite number of applications other than
expressive language. Expressive discourse, as
information exchange. Moreover, language is utilized
expressive, is neither true or false
to explain ideas, argue a point, provide directions,
Examples:
and many other things. Identifying at least three 1. Oh, the mountains are so beautiful!
2. Match me such marvel, save in
specific language uses is an oversimplification, but
Eastern clime.
an awareness of these functions is an excellent A rose-red city-“half as old as time”!
introduction to the complexity of language. There is
Poetic lines incorporating some “criticism of life”
nothing more subtle than language, and nothing has
are more than merely expressive. Language does
as many different uses.
often serve multiple functions.
 3. Directive language function: (4) Explain the excellent result (informative), make
This function becomes a little more complex but a moving appeal (expressive), and then ask
is simply a method to receive a response. It is most (directive).
typically encountered in commands and requests.
Although many command logics have been created, III.Other language Functions that could consider:
it is only sometimes considered true or false (Grin,
2022). The clearest examples are commands and 1.The ceremonial (ritual language use) - When
requests. performative features are incorporated, it is likely
that something other than just combining expressive
The difference between commands and requests and directive language functions is involved.
if often subtle. Almost any command can be Example:
converted to a request with suitable changes in the "Dearly beloved, we are gathered together to witness
tone of voice or merely by adding the word “please.” the holy matrimony of …."
Questions also may classified as directive when
posed ( as they usually are) to request an answer. 2.Performative utterances: The language that
executes the activity it reports.
Directive discourse, like expressive discourse,
is neither true or false. We may disagree about Example:
whether a command has been obeyed or a request The use of performative verbs such as "accept,"
fulfilled, but truth and falsity simply do not apply to "apologise”, “congratulate," and "promise" in the
the directions themselves. Commands and requests marriage ceremony. Using first-person verbs implies
do have other attributes-reasonableness, or an action that can be carried out without having to do
impropriety-that are somewhat analogous to truth and anything else.
falsity. Reasons can be given for an act to be
performed, and those, together with the command, 3.Phatic language: The “elevator talk” and the street
may be regarded as an argument. corner conversations are incredibly important for
Examples society. From stating something to expressing it with
A. Drive defensively. Remember the cemetery is
body language, note the subtle shift in conduct.
full of law-abiding citizens who had the right
way!
B. Give me a glass of water.
For example: "Hi" or "How are you?" to a nod or a
4. Discourse Serving Multiple Functions hand wave.
Discourse rarely serves only one purpose. In
most cases, discourse is mixed. On the other hand,
4.Most cases mentioned above aren't only for
there are several possible approaches;
academic purposes, even if we can't take the time to
follow the far-reaching consequences.
(1) Discuss current advances in the scientist’s
understanding of the disease (informative, and then
For example, in law, if a speaker is charged with
request a contribution (directive),
"inciting to riot," the prosecution must prove that he
was using the directive language function. In
(2) Make a moving appeal (expressive) and then ask
contrast, the defence will almost certainly argue that
for a contribution (directive),
the speaker only expressed his feelings. Additionally,
(3) Command it (directive),
performative utterances are generally not subject to 3. Emotively Neutral Language
hearsay rules because they imply an action taken. This language is a perfect blend of Emotive
language and Emotionless language.
Sentences – the units of language that express
complete thoughts -are commonly placed in one of
four categories;
Declarative, interrogative, imperative, and
exclamatory

Emotive and Neutral Language

the word that produces an emotive suggestiveness
after being pronounced is called Emotive Words. On
the other hand, the words which do not make such
emotive suggestiveness are known as emotively
neutral words.

There are 3 types of languages.

1. Emotive Language
is it is used to influence the emotion of others.
(When you are the narrator). Moreover, it is also used
to get the perspective of the narrator or the writer
(when you are seeing something or reading
something.)
Examples:
● Biopic Movies: Director designs a
narrative for the audience about the person by using
emotive language.
● Documentary: The director usually gives
plain facts about the person using emotively neutral
language.
● By studying emotive language, the
audience can determine whether the film is right or
wrong.
2. Emotionless language

This language is the exact opposite of emotive

language. In this type of language there are
absolutely no emotive words but have their neutral
counterparts.

Examples:
● Public Servant: Emotive Word (It
suggests good government officials)
● Bureaucrat: Emotive Word (It
suggests red tape and corrupt aspect of a
government official)
● Government Officer is Emotively
Neutral Word
Which of the various functions of language are 4. White society is deeply implicated in the ghetto.
exemplified by each of the following passages? White institutions created it, white institutions
maintain it, and white society condones it.
1. ‘Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe. 5. The bad workmen who form the majority of the
operatives in many branches of industry are
decidedly of the opinion that bad workmen ought to
2. What traveler among the ruins of Carthage, of receive the same wages as good.
Palmyra, Persepolis, or Rome, has not been
stimulated to reflections on the transiency of
kingdoms and men, and to sadness at the thought of a
vigorous and rich life now departed . . . ? 6. War is the greatest plague that can afflict
humanity; it destroys religion, it destroys states, it
destroys families. Any scourge is preferable to it.d
3.Moving due south from the center of Detroit, the the mome raths outgrabe.
first foreign country one encounters is not Cuba, nor
is it Honduras or Nicaragua or any other Latin
American nation; it is Canada.
7. Human history becomes more and more a race
between education and catastrophe.
4.Reject the weakness of missionaries who teach
neither love nor brotherhood, but chiefly the virtues
of private profit from capital, stolen from your land
and labor. Africa awake, put on the beautiful robes of
PanAfrican Socialism! 8. Among other evils which being unarmed brings
you, it causes you to be despised.

5.If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but

have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging
cymbal. 9. Eternal peace is a dream, and not even a beautiful
one. War is a part of God’s world order. In it are
developed the noblest virtues of man: courage and
6.I herewith notify you that at this date and through abnegation, dutifulness and self-sacrifice. Without
this document I resign the office of President of the war the world would sink into materialism.
Republic to which I was elected. —President
Fernando Collor De Mello, in a letter to the Senate of
Brazil,

10. Language! the blood of the soul, sir, into which

7.American life is a powerful solvent. It seems to our thoughts run, and out of which they grow.
neutralize every intellectual element, however tough
and alien it may be, and to fuse it in the native good
will, complacency, thoughtlessness, and optimism.

11. Over the past 133 years, more than 7,500

C.What language functions are most probably scientists, including social scientists, have been
intended to be served by each of the following elected to the National Academy of Sciences. It
passages? appears that only three of them have been black.

1. Judges do not know how to rehabilitate criminals

—because no one knows.

2. When tillage begins, other arts follow. The farmers 12. You’ll never have a quiet world until you knock
therefore are the founders of human civilization. the patriotism out of the human race.

3. The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is

for good men to do nothing.
13. If [he] does really think that there is no
distinction between virtue and vice, why, sir, when
he leaves our houses let us count our spoons.

14. Man scans with scrupulous care the character and

pedigree of his horses, cattle, and dogs before he
matches them; but when he comes to his own
marriage he rarely, or never, takes any such care.

15. The story of the whale swallowing Jonah, though

a whale is large enough to do it, borders greatly on
the marvelous; but it would have approached nearer
to the idea of miracle if Jonah had swallowed the
whale.

16. White Society is deeply implicated in the ghetto.

White Institutions created it, white institutions
maintain it and white society condones it

17. An unhappy alternative is before you, Elizabeth.

From this day you must be stranger to one of your
parents. Your mother will never see you again if you
do not marry Mr. Collins, and I will never see you
again if you do.

18. Of this man Pickwick I will say little; the subject

presents but few attractions; and I, gentlemen, am
not the man, nor are you, gentlemen, the men, to
delight in the contemplation of revolting
heartlessness, and of systematic villainy.

19. You praise the men who feasted the citizens and
satisfied their desires, and people say that they have
made the city great, not seeing that the swollen and
ulcerated condition of the state is to be attributed to
these elder statesmen; for they have filled the city full
of harbor and docks and walls and revenues and all
that, and have left no room for justice.