Communicative Function
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Communicative function is the language we use to express
particular ideas or to achieve particular results in particular
situations.
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We are looking at the purpose of an utterance rather than
analyzing its component pieces.
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The sentences or examples of language used are known as
“exponents” of a function. E.g., “Have you got the time on
you ?” is an exponent of the function of “asking for
information”
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Some exponents are fixed formulae that allow for little or no
alteration: You cannot change any words without losing the
meaning. E.g., “Have you got the time on you?”
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Other exponents have more generative possibilities:
“Could you tell me the way to the station?” is usable in a variety
of situations by substituting different vocabulary for station.
Function :
Exponents :
“Expressing regret”
1.
2.
3.
I wish I’d done it
If only I hadn’t gone there
Why didn’t I buy it when I
had the chance ?
Consideration for appropriacy awareness
Stress and intonation are very important. A change of
stress and intonation can make an exponent change
its function.
A lot of work in the area of function is to do with
common sense and common politeness – and most
of all to do with an awareness of audience.
The Considerations are :
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Who are you talking / writing to ? How well do you
know them ?
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How formal / informal is the relationship ?
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Where are you ? What unwritten rules or codes of
conduct apply ?
Ideas for Integrating Functional Work
into a course :
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Focusing on a functional area and studying a number of
exponents;
Roleplays – considering what to say in particular relationships;
Listening – working out relationships between speakers;
Deciding how different situations make one sentence mean
different things;
Building dialogues and picture story conversations;
Acting out play scripts;
Writing letters to different people;
Altering written conversations to change the relationship.