Understanding Key Linguistic Functions

Appellate Function

The appellate function is a management message to the listener or addressee, attracting their attention and giving rise to some effect or behavior. The predominance of this semantic relationship in an act of communication is often reflected in the structure of the utterance, which often, but not necessarily, corresponds to vocative or imperative forms.

Examples:

• Carlos, go!
• Have the goodness to leave.
• When can you tell me, please?

Synonyms:

• Conative Function
• Imperative Function
• Direct Function

Communicative Function

• A fundamental characteristic attributed to human languages as instruments for the transmission of messages.
• The capacity assigned to linguistic forms that allows users to understand and be understood.

This function must be present in any specific act of communication; otherwise, it risks not being considered as such.

Expressive Function

The expressive function is the role or value of the message as it relates to the manifestation of the speaker's emotional or attitudinal state as an expression of interiority. This relationship often becomes clear through prosodic features that are difficult to represent graphically.

Examples:

• I hate you!
• That's beautiful!
• Never!

Synonym: Emotive Function

Phatic Function

The phatic function refers to the message's role in ensuring the smooth running of the channels that allow contact with the recipient. This type of message tends to be almost devoid of information and responds to the interest and need to make sure the speaker is being heard or to extend the communication.

Examples:

• And then Mrs. Elena... are you listening?
• ...said he would. Nice day, huh?
• Yes, it's very hot. No, not very hot.

Synonyms:

• Pathic Function
• Contact Function

Metalinguistic Function

The metalinguistic function is the role or value of the message as it relates to the code (language). This semantic relationship of the utterance with the language, prominent in linguistic and grammatical texts, is also prevalent in situations of language acquisition, foreign language learning, or exchanges between speakers of different varieties of the same language.

Example:

Peter went on a boat as a turkey.

• What does turkey mean?
• Stowaway.