3 Languages Functions

8/3/2019 3 Languages Functions

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UNIT 3LANGUAGE FUNCTION

1. Basic Functions of Language

2. Discourse: Forms of Discourse

3. Emotive & Cognitive Meaning

4. Agreement and Disagreement




Vijay Anand Sharma Timilsina (VAST)Spring 2011

It will be quite an improbable task to try and list all

the functions of language… for all practical reasons

it can be considered endless.

They, at times, serve other purposes than they appear to be advancing

How are you?

Communicating is the most widely recognized use, not the ONLY use.

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LANGUAGE PERSPECTIVES

Unintentional IntentionalWithin the

individual

Language &

Society

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Some Perspectives

Unintentional

Language, in addition to nonverbal sources communicatesemotional states, sex of speakers, and even theirgeographical origins.

Intentional

Beginning with pre linguistic communication between motherand infant, intentional linguistic communication becomes thedominant mode of human communication.

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Some Perspectives

Language Within The Individual

Here language supports thought, rationalization andattribution, creativity, memory, self-direction, self-expression,

humor, and perhaps even aspects of consciousness.

Language and Society

Building upon both interpersonal and individual functions, a

language in a sense defines a society.

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Vijay Anand Sharma Timilsina (VAST)

Spring 2011

The Informative Use

Involves an effort to communicate some content.

Accomplished by formulating and affirming (denying) aproposition. Information includes Misinformation

Could be true, could be false.

Informative discourse is used to describe the world and toreason about it.

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Spring 2011

The Informative Use

Some Examples

Wednesday, Aug 31, is a holiday.

Logic is the study of correct reasoning.

Ace: 4474712

Information is „STATED‟.

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Spring 2011

The Expressive Use

Involves an effort to express emotions, feelings or attitudes.

Expressive discourse, as expressive is neither true nor false.

Expression has two components:

Manifest (within the individual)

Evoke (arouse similar feelings in the hearer)

Or BOTH!

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Spring 2011

The Expressive Use

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Spring 2011

Some Examples

Wari Jamuna, Paari Jamuna, Jamuna ko Phedai ma

Manakamana… The discourse loses its purpose if we apply the criteria of

truth and falsehood.

Phewatal ko aangan ma lai lai machapuchre chaya…

Not necessary that they are always false.

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Spring 2011

The Directive Use

When language is used to cause or prevent overt action.

Directive discourse, is neither true nor false.

Directive discourse has two components:

Reasonableness

Impropriety

They both are analogous to truth & falsehood.

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Spring 2011

Drive defensively.

Remember the

cemetery is full of law

– abiding citizens who

had the right of way

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2. Discourse


Spring 2011

What is it???

To make a long formal speech about something.

A serious speech or writing on a particular subject.

Serious conversation between people.

The language used in particular speech or writing.

It is all about LANGUAGE & the possible use we canput it into.

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2. Discourse


Spring 2011

Multiplicity of Discourse

Consider a time when you were raising money through

a Charity program …. To some you communicated the benefits to the students

from the money so donated (Informative)

To others, you pleaded, putting up your best and the most

innocent persona (Expressive) To others still, you just simply told them to fish out the

money (Directive)

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2. Discourse


Spring 2011


CEREMONIAL

A mix of language functions(usually expressive and

directive) with special social uses

PERFORMATIVEWhen language is used informatively with a Performative

Verb

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2. Discourse


Spring 2011


Madan brushes his tears away, to the Tibetan says,

“When it is time to say good bye, eyes are full always

Can‟t leave this virtuous compound, it‟s hard to go away,

Ask For something brother! Though I can‟t repay.”

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2. Discourse


Spring 2011


The Tibetan Says,

“ It was by chance, that kindness I could show,

Charity seeks no returns, remember us and go.

For our daily bread we toil, nothing free do we take,

There‟s nothing you can give brother, there is nothing I can

take.Go home, tell them of Chyangba, and remember friend,

The old woman‟s blessing, onto these orphans send.”

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2. Discourse


Spring 2011

Form & Function

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2. Discourse


Spring 2011

Form & Function: Where is it confusing???

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Arguments are a collection of propositions.

Propositions are sentences which can be asserted or

denied.

What are sentences???

A collection of words that make complete sense.

Use of different words can change the meaning of the

whole sentence.

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Spring 2011

So far we had but sentences to consider; the factremains that sentences are made of words.

Words and phrases can have multiple meanings

Literal Meaning:

Taking words in their basic sense without metaphor or

allegory

Emotive Meaning:

Arousing emotion or feeling.

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Spring 2011

Consider the following words:

Bureaucrat

Public Servant

Government Official

You can argue that the smell of a flower has nothing to dowith what its name is!!!

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Spring 2011

Euphemisms: Few WORDS about it

They will change, most probably with some other

euphemism Peon to Office Assistant

Sweeper to House Keeper

Language has its own life And emotive meaning of a word can come from the

context it is used in.

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Spring 2011

Euphemisms

Use of words or phrases to put something harsh to besaid in a more positive manner. 2nd Hand cars and Pre-owned vehicles

Civil servant and Bureaucrat

Equal opportunities and Reservations…

This influenced Bertrand Russell to devise: ConjugatedIrregular Verbs I am FIRM; you are OBSTINATE; he is a PIGHEADED FOOL.

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4. Agreement & Disagreement


Spring 2011

Sentences have different functions and they

may be performing the functions simultaneously

Words have different meanings and these

meanings often work independent of one

another.

The outcome: DISAGREEMENT.

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Spring 2011

Disagreements can happen in:

Belief

When two people disagree on whether or not somethinghas happened.

AttitudeWhen two people agree about the happening, but have

different feelings about the event.

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Spring 2011

Attitudes Vs Beliefs

Attitudes relate to evaluation of some object

Liking-disliking, pro-anti, favoring-not favoring, and positive-negative.

Beliefsare thoughts about the characteristic/s of the

object

Truth and falsehood are the criteria used to asses and evaluate

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Spring 2011

Dis/Agreements: The Kinds

Full harmony

Agree in beliefs but disagree in attitudes

Disagree in beliefs but agree in attitudes

Complete disharmony

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3 Languages Functions

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