LANGUAGE

Functions of Language and Different Types of Language and Language Styles

What are the six functions of language?

Language is more than just knowing a lot of different words and what those words mean. If we don’t know how to put those
words together, they won’t have much meaning. We learn how to form sentences and phrases by listening to others and by
studying grammar. It’s the grammar that helps us to understand the system, structure, and meaning of written or spoken
sentences.
Jakobson’s theory of communication includes six functions of language. If the grammar tells us what the message means,
the functions tell us the purpose of the addresser who is using the language.
Following are the six functions of language that Jakobson described:
 Referential: One of the main functions of language is sharing information with an audience. This is the language
you use to convey information in an objective way. For example: Sales are up 3% this quarter.
 Emotive: Also called expressive, this function helps us to interpret emotions, feelings, desires, and moods of the
subject. The emotive function gives us direct information about the sender’s tone. For example: I’m excited about
the new car I bought!
 Conative: This function focuses on the receiver of the message. The language used with this function is meant to
get the attention of or a reaction from the addressee. For example: Can you show John where to find the paper
clips?
 Phatic: The phatic function is used to establish a social connection without really communicating any meaningful
information. This type of language is used to start or stop a conversation or to check the connection between the
sender and receiver. For example: “How are you?” “I’m fine.” “See you later.”
 Poetic: This one is also known as the aesthetic function of language. 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. You will find the poetic function in quotations and colloquial sayings. For
example: “It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I
have ever known.”
 Metalingual: Meta is basically defined as self-awareness. So metalingual refers to talking about the language
itself—its features, word definitions, clarifying ambiguity, and describing deliberate word play are metalingual
functions. The metalingual function is also relevant in translation if foreign words are used to give special meaning
or emphasis. For example: 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.
Understanding how we communicate always helps us improve our interactions with others. At Lucid, we also know that a
picture is worth a thousand words. Try sharing your words in a Lucidchart document or Lucidspark board, so your team can
come together to talk and illustrate their next great idea!

SOURCE: https://www.lucidchart.com/blog/jakobsons-functions-of-language

Defining Language Variations

There are a handful of ways linguists categorise varieties of language; some definitions refer to word usage and rules, or
merely to vocabulary, while others refer to the way language adapts culturally, in broader strokes. All of these terms,
however, can cover variations in grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation. Below we’ll look at the following variety terms:
TYPES OF LANGUAGE
 Standard / Polite / Formal
 Colloquial / Informal
 Regional Dialect
 Social Dialect
 Lingua Franca
 Pidgin
 Creole
 Vernacular
 Patois
 Lingo
 Jargon
 Slang
Standard / Polite / Formal
We use the terms standard, polite and formal to refer to language that sticks to the rules and is essentially presented as the
‘proper’ form of English. In practice, this is not necessarily practical English, but rather the sort of English we’d expect to
see in formal writing or polite situations. Standard English is what is generally taught where possible, but alternative forms
may be taught in communities with developed variations.
Colloquial / Informal
Colloquial language is effectively anything that is not formal, often described as ‘spoken’ language. It is informal as the
aim is to communicate rather than stick rigidly to rules, so it is where we see contractions and idiomatic language being
used. There are countless varieties of this, and it is a blanket term that really covers all of the other terms below.
Regional Dialect
Regional dialects are varieties of language that emerge based on regionally specific use. There are many examples within
the UK alone, from the broad differences between the English spoken in the North and South to the more specific, localised
dialects, such as those spoken in certain cities, some of which have their own names (with Scouse from
Liverpool, Geordie in Newcastle and Brummie in Birmingham to name just a few).
Social Dialect
Social dialects emerge like dialects, but within a specific class or culture, instead of a region (though they can be further
developed to fit certain regions). This may also be referred to as a minority dialect, highlighting the variation is not the
predominant use. A major example of this is African American Vernacular English.

Lingua Franca
A lingua franca is a common language used between people who speak different languages. As the full purpose is bridging
gaps in communication, this can be very adaptable and therefore will not necessarily stick to traditional language rules.
English is used as a lingua franca all over the world, more commonly in fact than it is used by native speakers, and in some
cases may even be taught in a specific form to fit these needs, rather than as standard English. You can read more about this
on Wikipedia here.
Pidgin
A pidgin is a simplified version of a lingua franca, where people trying to communicate across different languages develop
their own form of communication. Though this technically makes it a lingua franca, it often some from merging two or
more languages together rather than as something true to one common language. Pidgins can therefore develop their own
vocabulary and rules that can be very independent of the original source languages.
Creole
A creole is an established form of pidgin, where a language developed from communicating over two or more languages is
taken up by a culture as a native language. Aspects that make a creole different to pidgin or dialects is that it has it will have
unique rules with a full range of functions, and may be taught as a mother tongue. Examples of English-developed creoles
include Gullah in South Carolina and Georgia and Nigerian Creole. Another interesting example is Louisiana Creole, which
derives from French but is used by Americans so may be interspersed with English.
Vernacular
Vernacular is the term used to describe language as it is used naturally by a specific people. What it describes can therefore
vary depending on what we wish to specify: we could speak about the vernacular of a country or a smaller community
within a city, or of a certain time and place (for example, we have a modern vernacular which would include vocabulary
that would not be part of the vernacular of, for example, fifty years ago).
Patois
Patois is a term used to refer to minority, non-standard use of a language, so this could cover all dialects, creoles and pidgins,
but this carries somewhat negative connotations as it implies an inferiority.
Lingo
Lingo is a term used to refer to any wording or phrasing that is specific to a certain group, including jargon or slang (see
below). Lingo is roughly synonymous with argot and cant, both also referring to the language of specific groups.
Jargon
Jargon is the words and phrases that emerge to cover ideas with in a specific community, often when specialist terminology
is required (for example technical terms in a profession or sport). In some cases this is necessary, where specialist activities
require new terminology, but jargon can also be seen as negative, where it is used to separate others from a conversation or
to create a superior appearance (as is commonly associated with business jargon).
Slang
Similar to jargon, slang is the language that emerges within a subgroup to describe new ideas, or to assign new words to
existing ideas to develop a sense of identity. As with jargon, this can be exclusionary, though while jargon typically refers
to specialisms, slang is more typically associated with social groups, for example the language of a younger generation.
Extreme forms of slang may be used specifically to disguise conversation, such as rhyming slang.

SOURCE: https://englishlessonsbrighton.co.uk/different-language-varieties/
 The 5 Different Types of Speech Styles
Types of
Speech Description Application Example
Styles

-Formal rigid and static

language, reliant on expertise;- -Formal settings and important -Presidential speech;-Anthem;-
Frozen/Fixed
Particular vocabulary, ceremonies.-Speaker to an School creed;-The Lord’s
Style
previously agreed upon, that audience without response. prayer.
rejects slang.

-Formal language; -Particular, -Speaking and writing in formal

previously agreed upon and professional settings, to -Formal meetings;-Corporate
vocabulary yet more allowing of medium to large groups of meetings;-Court;-Speeches and
Formal Style
slang, contractions, ellipses and people;-Speaking and writing to presentations; -Interviews;-
qualifying modal adverbials;- strangers, figures of authority, Classes.
Writing and speaking. professionals and elders.

-Group discussions; -Teacher-

-Semi-formal vocabulary;-
student communication; -Expert-
Unplanned and reliant on the -Two-way communication and
apprentice communication; -
Consultative listener’s responses;-May dialogue, between two or more
Work colleagues
Style include slang, contractions, people, without intimacy or
communication;-Employer-
ellipses and qualifying modal acquaintanceship.
employee communication; -
adverbials.
Talking to a stranger.

-Casual, flexible and informal

vocabulary;-Unplanned and -Relaxed and casual
-Chats with friends and family;-
without a particular order;-May environments; -Two or more
Casual Style Casual phone calls or text
include slang, contractions, people with familiarity and a
messages.
ellipses and qualifying modal relatively close relationship.
adverbials.

-Casual and relaxed

vocabulary. -Incorporates
-Chats between best friends,
nonverbal and personal language -Intimate settings, relaxed and
boyfriend and girlfriend, siblings
codes (terms of endearment, new casual environments; -Two or
Intimate Style and other family members,
expressions with shared more people with an intimate
whether in messages, phone
meaning). -May include slang, bond.
calls, or personally.
contractions, ellipses and
qualifying modal adverbials.

SOURCE: https://www.acethepresentation.com/types-of-speech-styles/

Prepared by: Ms. Arra Camille S. Manaog, LPT