IV. Functions of Language
Question:
What do you think are the
functions of language?
Metafunctions of Language: Halliday’s
Model
 1. Ideational:( descriptive funtions)
Constructs a model of experience and
constructs logical relations ( through
transitive system)
 2. Interpersonal: (social function) enacts
social relationships (through mood and
modality)
 3. Contextual: creates relevance to
context (through coherence and cohesion)
Elements of Communication: Jakobson’s
Model (1960)


Context
Referential
 Addresser
 Emotive
Message
Poetic


Contact
Phatic


Code
Metalingual
Addressee
Conative
Summary of the Functions of
Language
 Emotive:
 the use of language to create or
express certain feelings in the
hearer.
 Through Jokes, Advertising,
Propaganda, etc.
Summary of the Functions of
Language
 Conative :
The use of language in order to achieve a
result in an addressee, in accord with the
speaker’s wishes. Its use is illustrated by
a range of
 directive functions (e.g. commands,
vocatives), but its precise sense needs to
Summary of the Functions of
Language
 Metalingual:
The use of language to talk about
language itself.
 This makes language infinitely selfreflexive: We human beings can talk
about talk and think about thinking, and
thus only humans can ask what it means
to communicate, to think, to be human.
Summary of the Functions of
Language
 Poetic Function:
This is the use of language in artistically.
Example in the figure of speech in
literary work or in normal conversation.
 E.g.. He talk a lot but his point couldn’t
hold water
Summary of the Functions of
Language
 3.5 Phatic: the use of language to
establish an atmosphere or
maintaining social contact.
 E.g. Greetings, Farewells, and
Comments on the weather, etc.
Summary of the Functions of
Language
 1. Informative : Language serves an
informative function when it is used
to tell what the speaker believes, to
give information about facts, or to
reason things out.
 By use of Declarative Sentences
Summary of the Functions of
Language
 2. Interrogative: When language is
used to get information from others,
it serves an interrogative function
 Through Questions that expect
answers.
Summary of the Functions of
Language
 3. Interpersonal: Language serves an
interpersonal function when it is used to
establish and maintain their status in a
society.
 Five sub-categories of interpersonal
function: performative, directive,
emotive, expressive, and phatic.
Summary of the Functions of
Language
 3.1 Performative: (Declarative)
the use of language to “do things”, to
perform actions.
 Through quite formal and even
ritualized language. E.g. in wedding
and other religious ceremony
Summary of the Functions of
Language
 3.2 Directive: (instrumental) When
language is used to get the hearer
do something, it serves a directive
function.
 Most Imperative sentences.
Summary of the Functions of
Language
 3.4 Expressive: the use of language
to reveal something about the
feelings and attitudes of the speaker.
 Through Exclamations, etc.
Summary of the Functions of
Language
 4. Recreational: the use of language
for the sheer joy of using it.
 E.g. baby’s babbling, poetry, etc.
OTHER FUNCTIONS
 Recording function:
(Keep record of the document, text or
speech in brain) eg qur an bible etc.
 Identification faction.
Use of language to identify with a group or
to recognise a person due to his usage of
language
OTHER FUNCTIONS
 Regulatory Functions:
The use of language to worn or impart
discipline in the mind of people.