Functions of Language

General Functions of Language

• Interpersonal
• Informative
• Performative
• Expressive
 FUNCTIONS
JAKOBSON’S SIX FUNCTIONS OF LANGUAGE Referential
Emotive/Expressive
Conative
Phatic
Poetic
Metalingual

FACTORS
Context
Sender
Receiver
Channel
Code
Message
 Referential Function
⮚ Associated with the context and
concerned with the content.
⮚ Language describes a situation or an
object; convey information in an objective
way
⮚ Mental state

‘Sales are up 3% this quarter.”

 Emotive/Expressive Function
⮚ Expression of the speaker’s internal state
⮚ This function helps us to interpret the
emotions, feelings, desires, and moods of
the subject.

“I’m excited about the car I bought!”

 Poetic Function
⮚ This function focuses on the message
as well as the way the message is
communicated. This means that the
message might be embellished with
rhetorical figures of speech or
“flowery” language.
⮚ This is also known as the aesthetic
function of language. 

You, with your words like knives

And swords and weapons that you use against me
You have knocked me off my feet again
Got me feeling like a nothing
You, with your voice like nails on a chalkboard
Callin' me out when I'm wounded
You, pickin' on the weaker man
 Conative Function
⮚ This function is directive and oriented
towards the receiver.
⮚ This is used for causing or preventing an
action.
⮚ The linguistic expressions are evocative
and imperative sentences, which will
direct the receiver to act out and do
something.

“Can you show John where to find the paper clips?’

Phatic Function
⮚ This is a socio-linguistic function used for
the sake of interactions.
⮚ This type of language is used to start of
stop a conversation or to check the
connection between the sender and
receiver.
 Metalingual Function
⮚ Use of language to describe itself (self-
referential)
⮚ This is relevant in translation if foreign
words are used to give special meaning or
emphasis.

“I couldn’t help but feel a touch of Schadenfreude (a sense

of pleasure or joy from the failure of others) when the
other team lost by 50 points.”
HALLIDAY’S METAFUNCTIONS OF LANGUAGE

messages
Textual

exchanges Interpersonal Ideational

representations
HALLIDAY’S METAFUNCTIONS OF LANGUAGE

The ideational function is the content function

of language that allows individuals to
conceptualize the world for its own benefit and
Textual that of others.

“Language enables human being to build a

mental picture of reality, to make sense of what
Ideational goes on around them.” – Halliday, 1994
Interpersonal
This function is made up of experiential and
logical function.
HALLIDAY’S METAFUNCTIONS OF LANGUAGE

Experiential – denotes the speaker’s choice of

linguistic elements (grammatical choices) that
will help him to make meaning.
Textual

Interpersonal Ideational
HALLIDAY’S METAFUNCTIONS OF LANGUAGE

Logical – denotes the speaker’s choice of

linguistic elements (grammatical choices) that
will help him to make meaning.
Textual

Interpersonal Ideational
HALLIDAY’S METAFUNCTIONS OF LANGUAGE

Logical function describes the semantic

relationship between clauses helping to explain
how we link sentences together in a way that
Textual makes sense to us.

 Halliday argues that the meanings we

make in such processes are most closely
related to the experiential function.

Interpersonal Ideational
'School was good and we also went to my friend's house
later in the day’; 

'I had the most amazing time at my friends' house after

school! We played for hours and ate cake, but school was
good too. '
HALLIDAY’S METAFUNCTIONS OF LANGUAGE

Textual Interpersonal seeks to create and uphold social

relationships. This includes sentences and
grammatical choices that allow a person to
enact interpersonal relations.

Interpersonal Ideational
HALLIDAY’S METAFUNCTIONS OF LANGUAGE

Textual Interpersonal seeks to create and uphold social

relationships. This includes sentences and
grammatical choices that allow a person to
enact interpersonal relations.

Interpersonal Ideational
HALLIDAY’S METAFUNCTIONS OF LANGUAGE

This function describes the grammatical systems

that manage the flow of discourse. The textual
function is both experiential and interpersonal as it
Textual is language itself - it relates to the rules of language
and how it flows in conversation.

Interpersonal Ideational 'My work is going well thanks. I am excited to

start a new project next month because- Woah did
you see that person's jacket?! It was so cool! '
Halliday’s micro-functions of language
• Instrumental
• Regulatory
• Interactive
• Personal
• Heuristic
• Imaginative
• Representational
Halliday’s micro-functions of language
• Instrumental
• Regulatory
Language is used to fulfill a need.
• Interactive
• Personal
• Heuristic Example:
• Imaginative “Can I have a glass of water?”
• Representational
Halliday’s micro-functions of language
• Instrumental
• Regulatory Language is used to influence the
• Interactive behaviors of others through requests,
• Personal rules, or persuasion.
• Heuristic
• Imaginative
• Representational

Examples:
Let’s go home now.
You need to finish that work by tomorrow so get on with it.
Can you give me the report from yesterday?
Halliday’s micro-functions of language
• Instrumental
• Regulatory Language is used to help maintain or
• Interactive develop the relationship.
• Personal
• Heuristic
• Imaginative
• Representational

Examples:
Thank you!
Please
I care about you.
Halliday’s micro-functions of language
• Instrumental
• Regulatory Language is used to help an individual
• Interactive form an identity or sense of self. The
• Personal words one pick, as opposed to others,
• Heuristic
• Imaginative
can help define an individual.
• Representational
Language is used to express identity and
feelings.
Halliday’s micro-functions of language
• Instrumental
• Regulatory Language is used to learn, discover and
• Interactive explore. It is used to recognize the
• Personal
boundary between individuals and the
• Heuristic environment.
• Imaginative
• Representational
Halliday’s micro-functions of language
• Instrumental
• Regulatory Language is used to tell stories and
• Interactive create ideas and concepts.
• Personal
• Heuristic
• Imaginative
• Representational
Halliday’s micro-functions of language
• Instrumental
• Regulatory Language is used to exchange
• Interactive
• Personal information. It deals with relaying,
• Heuristic conveying facts or requesting
• Imaginative
information.
• Representational/Informative