LNGS 101

FUNCTIONS OF HUMAN
LANGUAGE
DEPARTMENT OF LINGUISTICS
UNIVERSITY OF GHANA
FIRST SEMESTER 2022/2023
 FUNCTIONS OF LANGUAGE: INFORMATIVE
ØHave you ever thought of the various uses or functions of language?
Let’s look at five different functions of language.

ØInformative:
Ø This function of language allows us to use words to refer to things,
indicate facts or events. We use language to provide information.

ØLanguage is used to communicate. When we use language to refer

to facts or things, we are using the informative or referential
function.

ØInformation may be conveyed in different types of sentences such

as statements, questions, commands, etc.
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 FUNCTIONS OF LANGUAGE: INFORMATIVE
1) Ghana became independent from Britain on 6 March 1957.
2) Today is Monday.
3) Stop work!
4) Do not write on the wall!
5) Did you close the door when you were leaving?
6) When will you start studying for Linguistics examinations?

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FUNCTIONS OF LANGUAGE: PERSUASIVE
ØPersuasive:
ØWe use language to influence peoples’ behavior. Language can be
used to encourage, frighten or even shame someone into doing
something.
ØHave you thought of why companies spend millions of
advertisements on their products? They recognize the power of
language as a persuasive tool.
ØThere are certain strategies used to persuade people. Urge or
encourage them to do something, frighten them, give reasons,
make suggestions that may appeal to the listener, promise the
listener something good.

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FUNCTIONS OF LANGUAGE: EMOTIVE
ØEmotive:
ØWe use language to express our feelings. With the emotive
function you communicate more for yourself than for the
people who may or may not hear what you say. When we
express our emotions to ourselves, we are expressing our
personal feelings.

Ø We can use language to express positive or negative

emotion depending on what we are feeling at a given point
in time.
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FUNCTIONS OF LANGUAGE: PHATIC
ØPhatic:
ØThe phatic function of language consists in saying
something just to have contact with the person you are
speaking to. It conveys the social meaning of solidarity or
togetherness.
ØFor example, when you ask someone, How are you doing?
Or What’s up?, you may not intend to know everything
about the person but just to show interest or strike a
conversation.
ØThink about this: What does hello mean? What does hi
mean? What about greetings and goodbyes? What do these
mean?
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FUNCTIONS OF LANGUAGE: PHATIC
ØNature of Phatic communication:
a) Fixed/formulaic: The expressions are fixed and so there
is no need to create new ones. There may be alternatives
but they are fixed expressions. Eg. Hello, Hi, Good
morning, good bye.
b) Non-informative: We do not give any specific information
when we use them.

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FUNCTIONS OF LANGUAGE: AESTHETIC
ØAesthetic:
ØLanguage is used as an art form to create beauty.

ØWe use language for its own sake. We use language

skilfully or artistically to give pleasure and entertain. This
function is used a lot in poetry by using rhymes,
alliterations, repetitions etc.

ØExample: She says she sells sea shells on the sea shore?

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