Functions of Language:

 

Functions of Language:

Languages have their own functions which are common to all the human languages. These are five important functions of human languages which are also similar to English language.

1. Informative function: Essentially, the English language is learnt not only to receive information but also to give information. The communication of information is the main function of the language.

 a. The informative function affirms or denies propositions, as in science.

b. This function is used to describe the world or reason about it (e.g.., whether a state of affairs is true or false).

 c. These sentences have a truth value; hence, they are important for logic. 

2. Directive Function:  Language used for the purpose of causing (or preventing) overt actions.

 a. The directive function is most commonly found in commands and requests.

 b. Directive language is not normally considered true or false (although logic of commands has been developed).

 c. Example: "Close the windows."

3. Expressive Function: We as human beings express our thoughts, feelings, and emotions to others through a known language.  Reports feelings or attitudes of the writer (or speaker), or of the subject, or evokes feelings in the reader (or listener).

 a. Poetry is one of the best examples, but much of, perhaps most of, ordinary language discourse is the expression of emotions, feelings or attitudes.

b. Two main aspects are generally noted: (1) to evoke certain feelings and (2) to express feelings. c. Expressive discourse, qua expressive discourse, is best regarded as neither true nor false. E.g., Shakespeare's King Lear's lament, "Ripeness is all!" Even so, the nature of "fictional statements" is an interesting area of inquiry. 

4. Storing Function: language stores and disseminates information. We would not have preserved our cultural heritage, history of mankind and civilization if there is no storing function of a language. All these and more including preservation and dissemination of research in science and technology is made possible with the help of English language. Thus English has storing function.

5. Creative Function: language has another unique function i.e. creativity. The literatures in different languages are example for creative function. The literary creations of Shakespeare, Byron, Shelly, Keats, Words worth, Rabindranath Tagore, Pandit Nehru, M.K.Gandhi and other great literary contributions would not have been either recognized or appreciated.