Functions

Question 1

The six functions

Answer 1

• Referential
• Conative
• Emotive
• Phatic
• Metalinguistic
• Poetic

Question 2

Referential

Answer 2

Conveys information (eg. statements such as “the train leaves at 6am”).

Question 3

Conative

Answer 3

Engages the addressee (eg. commands like “sit down!”).

Question 4

Emotive

Answer 4

Interprets feelings, desires, etc (eg. interjections like “yuck!”).

Question 5

Phatic

Answer 5

Establishes social connection (eg. greetings like “how are you?”).

Question 6

Metalinguistic

Answer 6

Talks about language itself (eg. “What does phatic mean?”).

Question 7

Poetic

Answer 7

Brings in the aesthetic dimension (eg. embellishing a message with quotations like “to be or not to be”).