FIVE FUNCTIONS OF COMMUNICATION

***FUNCTIONS OF COMMUNICATION***

1. Regulation/Control

Øa rule or directive made and maintained by an authority

Ø an action or process of regulating or being regulated

qCommunication is mainly used by persons in authority or representing authority to regulate or direct others under them.

2. Social Interaction 

Ø “a spontaneous verbal exchanges occurring in natural settings that are typically familiar to the interactants” 

3. Emotional Expression

Ø a manifestation of one’s internal emotional state

Ø an important social signal that conveys a variety of information regarding a person’s state of mind and his/her intentions.

4. Motivation

Ø literally the ‘desire to do things’

 and the ‘crucial element in setting and attaining goals’

5. Information

Ø apparent in the information-dissemination function of news agencies

Ø can be technology-based

BUHLER'S THREE FUNCTIONS OF COMMUNICATION/LANGUAGE

1. Expression – the focus of the communicative process is the expression of the speaker’s attitude towards the topic.

ØLanguage is used to express mental states.

2. Appeal – the focus is the intended effect on the listener/receptor. (also called Conative)

Language is used to direct other people.

3. 3. Representation – the focus is the content or the topic. (referential=to objects & phenomena)

Language is used to inform other people.

HALLIDAY'S FOL - FUNCTIONS OF LANGUAGE

1. Instrumental - to fulfil a need on the part of the speaker. Directly concerned with obtaining food, drink and comfort.

2. Regulatory - to influence the behavior of others. Concerned with persuading / commanding / requesting other people to do things you want.

3. Interactional - to develop social relationships and ease the process of interaction. Concerned with the phatic (sc) dimension of talk.

4. Personal - to express the personal preferences and identity of the speaker. Sometimes referred to as the ‘Here I am!’ function – announcing oneself to the world.

5. Heuristic - to learn and explore the environment. Child uses language to learn; this may be questions and answers, or the kind of running commentary that frequently accompanies children’s play.

6. Imaginative - to explore the imagination. May also accompany play as children create imaginary worlds, or may arise from storytelling.

7. Representational - to exchange information. Concerned with relaying or requesting information.

● JAKOBSON’S Six   Functions   of Communication(1990)

1.REFERENTIAL – focuses on the (context) things/facts. (Informative)

-- Describe a situation, object or mental state.
--Facts

2. POETIC (message) – focuses on “the message for its own sake.”

-- Operative function in poetry as well as slogans.

3. EMOTIVE (addresser) – focuses on the emotion/ expression of the  sender/adresser.-- Best illustrated byimperatives.

Ex. Submit your data tomorrow.

4. CONATIVE (addressee) – focuses on the appeal on the receiver.

-- Alternatively called (“Expressive or “Affective”)-- Best exemplified by INTERJECTIONS

Example: Stop! Go! Come here! Don’t do it! I love you!

5. METALINGUAL – focuses on the (code or language used). (Labelling)
-- To discuss or describe itself.

For instance:

Hamlet's "To be or not to be" speech is the metalanguage of despair.

6. PHATIC – focuses on the (contact / channel) between the speaker and the listener for conversation.

-- Observed in greetings and casual discussions particularly with strangers.

AGREEMENT:

Create a personalized flashcard with your chosen verse or quotation to be recited tomorrow as application of the Function of Communication.