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  • Referential Function (Context)

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    Hamna Khan
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    The document discusses Roman Jakobson's six functions of language that are involved in verbal communication: 1) referential function, which communicates information; 2) emotive function, which communicates emotions; 3) conative function, which requires a response from the addressee; 4) metalingual function, which ensures both parties use the same language code; 5) phatic function, which controls the length of communication; and 6) poetic function, which focuses on the structure and form of language. The document provides an example dialogue between two friends that highlights examples of each function.

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    Functions 1

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    The document discusses Roman Jakobson's six functions of language that are involved in verbal communication: 1) referential function, which communicates information; 2) emotive function, which communicates emotions; 3) conative function, which requires a response from the addressee; 4) metalingual function, which ensures both parties use the same language code; 5) phatic function, which controls the length of communication; and 6) poetic function, which focuses on the structure and form of language. The document provides an example dialogue between two friends that highlights examples of each function.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    11 views2 pages

    Referential Function (Context)

    Uploaded by

    Hamna Khan
    The document discusses Roman Jakobson's six functions of language that are involved in verbal communication: 1) referential function, which communicates information; 2) emotive function, which communicates emotions; 3) conative function, which requires a response from the addressee; 4) metalingual function, which ensures both parties use the same language code; 5) phatic function, which controls the length of communication; and 6) poetic function, which focuses on the structure and form of language. The document provides an example dialogue between two friends that highlights examples of each function.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    of 2

    Hamna Latif Khan

    Fa17-BSEng-026

    Quiz

    Language is diverse and sentences involved in verbal communication when dissected indicate to be
    performing multiple functions at a single point. Roman Jakobson categorizes these functions in 6 major
    categorize. These factors needed in any verbal communication are:

    1. Referential Function (Context):

    It is the most apparent and the most dominant function requiring cognitive comprehension and
    communicates information by referring to it or denoting it. It communicates facts or information.

    2. Emotive Function (Addresser):

    Addresser is associated with the emotional function which communicates upon the delivery of an
    emotion and not to give away any information in the expression. Emotive function also involves time and
    way of utterance to denote to an emotion.

    This function is usually performed by interjections a ending in an exclamation mark, by cuss words,
    intonation, emotive exclamatory gestures and the way, the tone and the speed of utterance.

    3. Conative Function (Addressee):

    A conative function is directed towards the addressee and requires a comprehension or an answering
    reaction, verbal or physical. These are usually generated by commanding expressions or vocatives,
    imperatives and uttered verbs requiring an action or performatives (speech-act verbs).

    4. Metalingual Function (Code):

    Metalinguistic function is the first function of language (code) which is language directed to its own self
    and it occurs when language discusses its own self. It ensures that each of the sides uses the same
    code and makes sure that the language is for everybody involved in the situation.

    5. Phatic Function (Contact):

    The Phatic function of language deals with the contact time and length. It either prolongs communication,
    continues it by keeping on prompting it or discontinues it. It involves questions and statements which
    control the contact or the communication length in a verbal exchange.

    6. Poetic Function (Message):

    The poetic function of language is for it's own sake and involves the structural build-up of it such as the
    poetic devices involved like rhyme and the grammatical phenomena such as puns, alliteration, repetition
    etc.
    As an example of all these six functions, following is a situation in which two friends meet up after school
    and hold up a verbal exchange ( a dialogue) regarding about everyday mundane things. The functions
    have been highlighted in the exchange!

    A : “Hey!”

    B : “Hello ! How are you?” (Phatic function: as this question is prolonging the contact)

    A : “I am good, it’s incredibly hot today!” (Referential function: as this statement is delivering a
    fact about the day and about the addressee or in other words is providing information setting up
    the exchange's context)

    B : Ugh (Emotive: as it is expressing the emotion of frustration on part of the addressee), true!

    A : “The Scorching Sun (Poetic: as this utterance involves alliteration (the repetition of the sound
    's' in the beginning of both the words) is being exceptionally cruel today.”

    B : “I want ice-cream, *points to the shop* Go get us some.” (Conative: This statement is imperative
    in nature and is prompting an action via a command in speech i.e. commanding A to get ice-
    cream)

    A : “What is it about ice-cream that you like so much?” (Phatic Function: This question is ageing
    promoting the contact and hence is Phatic in nature)

    B : “Its just perfect for this type of weather, do you get me?” (Metalinguistic: As this question is
    making sure that both the Addresser and the addressee share the same code and the addressee
    gets what the Addresser is conveying)

    A : “Oh well! “ *leaves to get ice-cream*

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