Uploaded byKamakshi Rajagopal
Functional Linguistics
The document discusses functional linguistics theories including Systemic Functional Grammar (SFG) and Speech Act Theory. It covers: - SFG views meaning as primary, with language having features to perform functions. Two main schools are the Prague School (Jakobson) and Copenhagen School (Halliday). - Jakobson identified 6 language functions. Halliday identified 3 metafunctions - ideational (experience), interpersonal (interaction), and textual (structure). - Speech Act Theory sees utterances as doing more than just meaning, with locutionary, illocutionary, and perlocutionary acts. Illocutionary acts include assertives, directives, commissives, expressives,
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Functional Linguistics
- 1. Functional Linguistics VUB-BNU SummerSchool “European Languages, culture and educational systems” Dr. Kamakshi Rajagopal
- 2. Structure of thesession Some theory (45min) Video (15min) Break (5min) Group exercise Plenary presentation and discussion
- 3. Functionalism • Meaning isthe primary driver of form in language • Language, as an instrument, has features which can be used to perform certain functions In Europe, two schools of thought: • Prague School Jakobson • Copenhagen School Halliday
- 4. Roman Jakobson (1896-1982) Sixfunctions of language • Referential function • Expressive function • Conative function • Poetic function • Phatic function • Metalingual function
- 5. Sender Message Receiver Encodes meaningin a form Decodes form to meaning Common meaning- to-form-to- meaning system
- 6. Sender Channel Context Message Receiver Code Other words Nocommon words Message did not reach correctly Reference of the meaning in the outside world is different – Different FACTS Intended receiver is not listening Sender has a particular opinion about the message
- 7. Sender Channel Context Message Receiver Code Establish commonmeaning- to-form-to-meaning Check the channel Check the facts Address the personExpress the opinion
- 8. Sender Channel Context Message Receiver Code Reference Expressive ConativePoetic/ Aesthetic Phatic Metalingual
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- 10. 3 main metafunctionsof language • Ideational metafunction – Language helps us “construct human experience”: how the individual perceives the world • Interpersonal metafunction – Language allows us express the interactions and complex relations with the other person in society • Textual metafunction – Language allows us to bring structure to our interactions and organize the language system itself, making communication easier
- 11. Interpersonal metafunction • Thesociety we live in is complex • Through language, we can bring more clarity in this social complexity • On micro-level (e.g. one-to-one dialogues) • On societal level (e.g. belonging to particular groups)
- 12. Textual metafunction • Throughthe multitude of meaning that we want to express through language, it becomes complex • Language itself gives tools to bring structure to the things we express, making communication clearer • e.g. in written language: – firstly, secondly, thirdly – on the one hand,… on the other hand – And; But ; Moreover; ….
- 13. Ideational metafunction • Ashuman beings, we observe, experience and (try to) understand the world • We can use language to express – things that happen in the world – the connections and relationships between things – the things we see, hear, feel, experience! • Grammatical system of TRANSITIVITY with 6 process types to articulate perceptions and experiences
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- 18. What it is >No relation to the speaker > SEMANTICS What it means to me, the Speaker > Intention of the speaker > PRAGMATICS TREE PLANTS BIRDS FOREST HOME HOLIDAY SUMMER
- 19. Speech Act Theory ASpeech Act is an utterance which “does more than what its pure meaning” • Locutionary act: the utterance itself “It is cold here.” • Illocutionary act: the intended result of the speaker Request to close the door • Perlocutionary act: the effect of the illocutionary act (outside language) The door is closed
- 20. Types of illocutionaryacts • Assertives – e.g. Singing national anthem • Directives – e.g. Request, Command • Commissives – e.g. Promise • Expressives – e.g. Congratulations, Thanks • Declarations – e.g. Pronounce, Declare
- 21. Exercises: Language inCartoon • Communication Act? • Speech Acts? • What does it say about the characters? – How do they feel? – What do they want?
- 22. Discussion • Material processesdeal with Activity • Behavioural processes often concern functions of the body • Existential processes describe things that “exist” • Relational processes talk about the quality or characteristics of entities There is discussion possible about which category is intended! • Not every utterance is a speech act!!!
- 23. Difference between Systemic FunctionalGrammar and Speech Acts Talking about a tree, to figure out how it got there and why it is the way it is Talking about a tree, to figure out how to work with it
- 24. References • Roman Jakobson Jakobson,J. (1962-1987). The Selected Writings of Roman Jakobson, The Hague and Berlin: Mouton. • M.A.K. Halliday Halliday, M.A.K. (1994). An introduction to functional grammar. London: E. Arnold. • Pragmatics Austin, J. L. (1962) How to Do Things With Words. Oxford University Press.