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Michela Giordano

mgiordano@unica.itMarch 9th2015

Roman Osipovich Jakobson (1896–1982) Russian–American linguistand literary theorist

Pioneer of the structural analysis oflanguage

Among the most influentiallinguists of the century

Influenced by de Saussure, hedeveloped techniques for theanalysis of sound systems inlanguages

Inaugurated the discipline ofphonology

Applied the same analysis tosyntax, morphology and semantics

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•1960: Jakobson’s theory on the purposes of thelanguage used in human communication

•Model of communication functions two layers ofdescription:

• the various elements of language use(factors/components of verbal communication)

• what humans do with the language when they useit (functions of verbal communication)

Jakobson’s model of verbal communication

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Factors necessary for communication to occur:

(1) context

(2) addresser (sender)

(3) addressee (receiver)

(4) contact/channel

(5) common code

(6) message

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A message is sent by the addresser (sender) to theaddressee (receiver). The message can not beunderstood outside of a context.

A code should be common to the addresser andaddressee.

A contact (physical channel and psychologicalconnection) is necessary for both of them to enter andstay in communication.

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Each factor is the focal point of a relation,

or function,

that operates between the message and the factor.

Each of these six factors

has a different function of language.

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FACTORS FUNCTIONS

1) addresser

2) addressee

3) context

4) contact/channel

5) code

6) message

a) poetic/aesthetic

b) phatic

c) conative/directive

d) emotive/expressive

e) referential/informative

f) metalinguistic

How do they relate to each other?

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Aka “expressive” or “affective”

Focuses on the addresser/sender/speaker/writer

Personal expressions of feelings, attitudes, opinions

The addresser's own attitude

• towards the content of the message: positive,negative, ironical, sentimental...

• towards the addressee: equality, authority, personal,impersonal, solidarity, in/formality...

Expressing feelings and states

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Expressive texts: autobiography, political speeches,personal correspondence, monologue

Grammar: 1st person, emphatic speech, exclamativesentences, interjections (sudden surprise, pleasureor annoyance ): Bah!, Oh!, Yuck!, Ouch!, Wow!

Other expressions that add information about theaddresser's internal state, e.g. Wow, what a view!

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I’m very happy with my new shoes.

(emotive/expressive function focus on the

addresser)

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Codes1) 1st person2) self-projection3) exclamations, interjectionsTopics & themes1) to talk about oneself2) to talk about one own’s emotions/feelings

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Aka “vocative” or “directive”

Focuses on the reader/hearer/addressee/receiver

Used to call upon the addressee to act, think or feel, toreact in the way intended by the text

Aim: to produce a certain effect/response on theaddressee, to convince, to persuade: Explicit – order, request, demand, warning, advice... Implicit – through expressive means changing people’s mind

Influencing addressee’s behaviour

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Conative/directive texts: requests, instructions,advertisements, propaganda, theses, popularfiction, contracts, orders, prayers

Grammar: 2nd person, pronouns, forms of address,infinitives, some modals, vocatives, exhortatives,imperatives, e.g. Tom! Come inside and eat!, Drink!,Go Away!, Are you ready to go?, Touch me

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Fasten your seat belt!(conative / directive function focus on the

receiver)

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Conative Function (3)

Codes1) 2nd person2) imperatives, vocatives3) exhortatives4) questionsTopics & themes1) prayers, exhortations, instructions2) orders, requests, advice3) advertisements

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Aka “informative” , “denotative”, “cognitive”

Focus on content, context and the referent

Explanation, definition, description

The core is the external situation, the facts of a topic,the reality outside language, included reported ideasor theories

The context is what is being spoken of, what is beingreferred to

Imparting information

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Referential texts: textbook, technical report, scientificpaper, thesis, minutes or agenda, newspaper article(scientific, technological, commercial)

Identify and characterise phenomena: impersonal,objective, formal, non-emotive style (but it depends onthe genre)

Grammar: 3rd person, definite descriptions, assertionsabout the context, deitic words: The earth is round,Water boils at 100 degrees

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It was a burning hot day; the airwas stifling; one could hardlybreathe even near the sea.

(informative / referential function focus on the context)

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Referential function (3)

Codes1) deixis: here, there, now, tomorrow, this,

near, own, your2) 3rd person3) simple pastTopics and themes1) past, present2) scientific facts3) explanation, information

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Aka “interactional”

Associated with the contact/channel factor

Used to establish or maintain contact

Establishes, prolongs, discontinues communication:we use it to know whether the channel works orwhether the contact is still there

Checking or establishing contact

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Phatic/interactional texts: greetings, casualdiscussions on the weather/with strangers,messages to open, maintain, verify contact

Small talk, attention getters, channel checkers,greetings e.g. : Hello!, Are you listening?, Do you hearme?, Hey, you…May I have your attention?, How areyou?, Have a good weekend!, See you tomorrow, Didyou have a good Christmas?, Isn’t it hot today?, Do youknow what I mean?

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Nice weather today!(phatic function focus on the contact/channel)

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Phatic function (3)

Codes1) small talk2) attention getters3) channel checkersTopics & themes1) greetings2) casual discussions3) to verify channel/contact

Phatic

(checking the channel)

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Aka “metalingual”, “reflexive”

Deals with the code itself

It is the function of language about language, languageused to explain, discuss or describe itself

Negotiating or checking the language

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Used whenever addresser and addressee need tocheck whether they use the same code and whenthe language is used to speak about language

Questions or explanations of terminology orphraseology, statements about language/grammar,terminology of linguistics: What do you mean whenyou say…?, What do you mean by…?, literally, so-called, sometimes known as, How do you say codice inEnglish?, “Cat” is a singular noun, Would is a modalverb

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Is he speaking English?(metalingual function focus on the code)

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Metalingual function (3)

Codes1) questions2) explanations of phraseology3) statements about grammar and linguisticsTopics & themes1) language to talk about language2) ambiguity/misunderstanding

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Metalingual

(can you explain it any better?)

asking questions about the meaning

Aka “aesthetic”

Oriented toward the message, its sound and shape,focus on the message “for its own sake”

Messages convey more than just the content

Includes more than poetry: rhetorical figures, pitchor loudness

Aim: arouse emotions, feelings and thoughtsthrough the sound and the musicality of words

Foregrounding linguistic structures

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Language is used in a creative way

Imagery such as metaphor, simile, puns, allegory,assonance, rhymes, slogans, images, sounds,colours…

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It was a beautiful warm day; the air waslike velvet; the sea air was invigorating.

(poetic function focus on the message)

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Poetic function (3)

Codes1) rhetorical devices and figurative language2) metaphor, simile, puns, contrastive pair3) repetition, rhyme, alliteration, ellipsisTopics & themes1) politics, art, advertising2) quotes and slogans

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Poetic

We can hardly find verbal messages that fulfilONLY ONE function

Not a monopoly of some/one of

these several functions but a different

HIERARCHICAL ORDER OF FUNCTIONS

Look for the PREDOMINANT FUNCTION

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1) The train leaves at five sharp.2) What a nice surprise!3) Defence, diplomacy, development.4) Nice weather, isn’t it?5) Roses are red, violets are blue, sugar is sweet, and so are you. 6) “Drop” means to let something fall.7) How wonderful!8) I’m so tired! 9) Do you know what I mean?10) This is the weather forecast for today.11) Hurry up!12) Get up!13) Please, accept my present.14) The rain hasn’t stopped all day!15) Close the door!16) Excuse me, Madam!17) Are you listening?18) Let’s go!

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Your turn …

In the analysis of advertisements:

start by determining whether each of the functionsof language is present or absent

if you find more than one function, you can create asimple hierarchy between them by identifying thedominant function

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Functions and advertising

Cardona G. R., 1988, Dizionario diLinguistica, Roma: Armando Editore.

Jakobson R., 1960, "Closing Statement:Linguistics and Poetics" in Style in Languageed. Thomas Sebeok.

Torsello C.T., 1984, English in discourse, ACourse for Language Specialists, Padova:Cleup Editore.

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