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Language Functions

The document discusses the various functions and uses of language, categorizing them into informative, expressive, and directive functions. It highlights how language serves multiple purposes, such as conveying information, expressing emotions, and issuing commands, often blending these functions in everyday discourse. Additionally, it mentions other forms of language, including ceremonial and performative uses, emphasizing the complexity and context-dependent nature of language communication.

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Sajad Hussain
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25 views21 pages

Language Functions

The document discusses the various functions and uses of language, categorizing them into informative, expressive, and directive functions. It highlights how language serves multiple purposes, such as conveying information, expressing emotions, and issuing commands, often blending these functions in everyday discourse. Additionally, it mentions other forms of language, including ceremonial and performative uses, emphasizing the complexity and context-dependent nature of language communication.

Uploaded by

Sajad Hussain
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Language – Meaning,

Definitions and common


forms and Functions
Language Background

 There is perhaps nothing more subtle than language is, and


nothing has as many different uses.

 Written and spoken language is used for many different reasons.


The primary uses of language are informative, expressive, and
directive in nature. Language is used to reason, to express ideas,
argue a point, provide directions, and much more. Let's learn
about the three main uses of language and how they are
represented in written and spoken language.
Varieties of Meaning

 The twentieth-century philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein thought the number


of these functions to be virtually unlimited. Thus, among many other things,
language is used to

 Ask Questions
 Tell stories
 Tell lies
 Guess at answers
 Form hypotheses
 Give directions
 Issue commands and Greet some one.
Examples

 The death penalty, which is legal in thirty-six states, has been carried
out most often in Georgia; however, since 1977 Texas holds the record
for the greatest number of executions. ( Informative)

 The death penalty is a cruel and inhuman form of punishment in which


hapless prisoners are dragged from their cells and summarily
slaughtered only to satiate the bloodlust of a vengeful public.
(Persuasive)

 Cognitive
 Emotive
Three basic functions of Language

A. Without a doubt, identifying just these three basic


functions is an oversimplification, but an awareness
of these functions is a good introduction to the
complexity of language.

B. The Functions of Language (i.e., its purpose; what


it does; its uses)
1.0 Informative language
function
 Essentially, the communication of information.

A. The informative function affirms or denies propositions, as in science


or the statement of a fact.

B. This function is used to describe the world or reason about it (e.g..,


whether a state of affairs has occurred or not or what might have led to
it).

C. These sentences have a truth value; that is, the sentences are either
true or false .
For Example

 On the other hand, a person would be emphasizing information if


they said, 'Isn't it raining outside?' to a child who wants to play
outside.

 This informative use of language is rhetorical because the person


knows that it is raining, but is forming it as a question to remind
the child that the weather is keeping them indoors.
2.0 Expressive language function

Reports feelings or attitudes of the writer (or speaker), or of the


subject, or evokes feelings in the reader (or listener).
a. Poetry and literature are among the best examples, but much
of, perhaps most of, ordinary language discourse is the
expression of emotions, feelings or attitudes.
b. Two main aspects of this function are generally noted: (1)
evoking certain feelings and (2) expressing feelings.
c. Expressive discourse, qua expressive discourse, is best
regarded as neither true or false.
For example

 "Ripeness is all!" or Dickens' "It was the best of times, it was the
worst of times; it was the age of wisdom; it was the age of
foolishness…" Even so, the "logic" of "fictional statements" is an
interesting area of inquiry.
3.0 Directive language function:

 language used for the purpose of causing (or preventing) overt


action.
a) The directive function is most commonly found in commands
and requests.
b) Directive language is not normally considered true or false
(although various logics of commands have been developed).
c) Example of this function: "Close the windows." The sentence
"You're smoking in a nonsmoking area," although declarative,
can be used to mean "Do not smoke in this area."
 It is rare for discourse just to serve only one function.

 Most ordinary kinds of discourse is mixed. Consider


these example.
Example

 Explain the recent breakthroughs in the scientist's understanding


of the disease. (informative) and then ask for the contribution
(directive).
Several other uses of language deserve
mention
Ceremonial use

 The ceremonial--(also ritual language use) probably something


quite different from simply mixing the expressive and directive
language functions because performative aspects are included
as well.

 Example
 "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here together to witness the
holy matrimony of …."
2.0 Performative utterances

 language which performs the action it reports.

 For Example
 "I do" in the marriage ceremony and the use of performative
verbs such as "accept," "apologize," "congratulate," and
"promise.“

 These words denote an action which is performed by using the


verb in the first person.
3.0 Phatic Language

 "Elevator talk" and street-corner conversations accomplishing a


social task.

 Note the subtle transition from vocal behavior to body language


from saying for example.

 "Hi" or "How are you?" to a nod or a wave of the hand.


For Example

 when a speaker is charged "with inciting to riot," the prosecution


must maintain he was using the directive language function,
while the defense will probably argue that the speaker was only
expressing his feelings.
Forms of Language ( types of
sentences)
 Much discourse serves all three functions--one cannot always
identify the form with the function.

 But note that context often determines the purpose of an


utterance.

 Let’s Consider the Following Table for better Understanding


Usual Function Informative Expressive Directive
/Sentence Type
assertion /declarative The room is cool. I had a nice time. I would like some
coffee.

question /interrogative But isn't this Isn't that great? Don't you want to
room 222A? help me?

command /imperative / Read pages 1-10 Have a nice day. Shut the
for the test. windows.

exclamation /exclamatory The universe is I'm really glad! It's late!


bounded!
 The importance of the differentiation of functions is shown by
recognizing that the correct evaluation of a passage requires a
knowledge of the functions relevant to the situational context.

 1.0 A person who says to the waiter, "I would like a cup of
coffee," is not just reporting a psychological state of affairs.
 I.e., it would be inappropriate for the waiter to respond with,
"Speaking of things one would like, I'd rather have a BMW."
 Other things being equal, a biology text is predominately informative, a
novel is predominately expressive, but a logic or mathematics text is
mostly directive.

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