Jackobson´s Functions of Language.
Communicative Func-
tions.
Roman Jakobson’s model. Bühler’s scheme was adopted by the Prague School
and later extended by Roman Jakobson, who, on the basis of the six factors of his
own model of communication, distinguished six different functions of language:
1. Expressive or emotive function. It is related to the addresser and where
language is used to express the speaker’s feelings. It includes expressions of pain, anger,
affection, etc. Swear words or expletives are probably the commonest expressive ex-
pressions, although, at a more sophisticated level, there are many literary devices of
grammar and vocabulary which can convey the writer’s feelings.
2. Conative function. It is related to the addressee and where language is used
to get the addressee to do what the speaker wants. It tries to produce an answer. It could
be, for instance, a command.
3. Poetic function. It is related to the message itself and where the primary ori-
entation is towards the form of the message. The form of the message becomes
more important than the meaning. For instance, literature and poetry. The focus is on
the message “for its own sake”.
4. Metalinguistic function. It is related to the code and where language is used
to refer to itself.
5. Phatic function. It is related to the contact or channel and where language is
used to establish and maintain personal relationships. The use of phrases such as
“pleased to meet you” and ritual exchanges about health and the weather do not
communicate ideas and no factual content is involved. It is a mechanism to keep com -
munication going.
6. Referential function. It is related to the context and where language is used to
convey information about the world around us. It transmits information about anything
but the language itself.