Biblia

Language, Functions of

Language, Functions of

Language, Functions of

Some utterances (a) are produced by a speaker, (b) induce effects in an interpreter, (c) are related to a certain subject-matter (which may, but in general will not, include either the speaker or interpreter). According as one or other of the relations in which the utterance stands to the several factors of such speech-situations is selected for attention, the (token) utterance may be said to have expressive, evocative and referential functions. The utterance expresses thoughts, desires, attitudes of the speaker; evokes reactions (thoughts, evaluations, tendencies to action) in the hearer; designates or refers to its reference.

While all three functions are normally distinguishable in any given utterance, type-sentences (and, derivatively, words) may be classified according as one or the other of the functions normally predominates in the occurrence of the corresponding tokens. (Thus exclamations are predominantly expressive, commands evocative, scientific generalizations referential.) Such distinctions may, in turn, be made the basis for distinguishing different types of linguistic systems.

While most writers on language agree us to the value of making some such distinctions, there is little agreement as to the number and kinds of functions which may usefully be recognised. There is even less agreement about nomenclature. The account given follows that of Kretschmer (Sprache, 61 ff. in Gercke and Norden, Einleitung in die Altertumszvissenschaft, I) and Bhlcr (Sprachtheorie, passim). Ogden and Richards distinguish five functions (Meaning of Meaning, 357 fF.). The broad distinction between “referential” and “emotive” uses of language, due to the same authors, has been widely accepted. — M.B.

Fuente: The Dictionary of Philosophy