The Basic Functions of Language

Language is a multipurpose tool which performs the function of letting other people know our thoughts, ideas, emotions, feelings and so on in different ways. There are three major functions of language. Informative, expressive and the directive are the major functions of language which interact with personality, society and culture.

Informative Function

One of the basic functions of language is to communicate information of all kinds whether it is true or false correct or incorrect, important or unimportant, general or particular. All informative discourse is used to describe the world around us and to reason about it. Thus, the language which includes propaganda of all kinds and even deliberate information is said to informative in function.

Expressive function

As science gives us the informative function similarly, the poetry provides us the finest examples of expressive function of language. Every poet expresses his own feelings and thoughts, ideas, emotions and the experiments and experiences of life. Not only the poets use the expressive language, but also the other people express their deep and tender feelings and emotions. Poetry also gives a little bit informative function of language, but we must keep it into our mind that poet’s purpose is to express his ideas, feelings, and emotions and to convey all these things into readers mind. Thus, all expressive language may be analysed into two component elements, to express the feelings and attitude of the speaker; and to evoke the same attitude or feelings in the hearer.

Directive function

The third basic function of language is called “Directive Function”. Directive language is based on commands and requests. For instance, if any person says something to another person for doing and thing, as a mother says her child to say prayers before going to bed, it does not mean that mother is giving information to her child or she wants to arouse something in child’s mind; but the purpose of her language is to make the child do what is indicated; similarly. Similarly, if we ask the question from any body, there is an implied request for an answer. Commands and requests can be interchanged. Commands can be changed by adding a “Please” at the beginning or by the suitable change in the tone of the voice or in the expression of the face.

However; language performs multiple functions because effective communication often requires it. For example, a speaker can cause the hearers to make their contributions to same particular charity by making use of the multiple functions of language, Thus, as being essential to successful communication, language must, at the same time, be used to serve all three functions by informative, expressive and directive.