Micro Function of Language

MICRO FUNCTION OF LANGUAGE

WHAT IS MICRO FUNCTION OF LANGUAGE? •Micro-functions of language consist of short utterances (usually one sentence). They are used to inquire about or impart factual information, opinion, emotions, advice, greetings, etc. •Micro- functions can be categorized, e.g., instructing, commanding, suggesting, and requesting are types of ‘directives’ or ‘getting things done’.

MICRO FUNCTION Physiological function(releasing physical and nervous energy) Phatic function (for sociability) Recording function Identifying function

Reasoning function (instrument of thought) Communicating function

Physiological Function (Releasing physical and nervous energy) •To relieve the physical and nervous energy generated by emotional distress.

•At such moments, we need a vocabulary to match that with our feelings. Eg (violence, anger) • It is easily recognizable when devoted fans of sports are observed while watching their favourite discipline on TV. Such fans often shout instructions, express support, or disappointment just to release repressed energy.

 Similarly curse words are used to serve this purpose, as

they rarely convey any meaning and are only to make the speaker feel better.  The instructions are perfectly useless, and they

serve no communicative purpose.  EXAMPLE: When there is a football match, all the

supporters will scream and shout their favourite team and at the same time will curse another team just because they win.  (come on man…faster!!or you will be dead!!)

Phatic function (for sociability) • ‘Phatic’ comes from Greek, means ‘utterance’ • Act as a form of social bonding •Intended to link people and make the coexistence peaceful and pleasant. The phatic use of language is characteristic mainly of speech, however, in certain types of writing it can also be noticed, as in letters Examples: 1) Nice weather today/ how do you do 2) Dear Sir/Madam 3) Sincerely

Recording function •Recording function denotes using language to make a durable record of things that ought to be remembered. •There is evidence that the first writing system was developed in the Middle East as early as 4000 BC. At the beginning writing systems took forms of pictures representing the things they referred to, gradually developing into the alphabets in their present forms. • Using a huge numbers of characters to represent all words in an ordinary person’s vocabulary.

Identifying function • Language

is used also to identify the objects and events in the world we live in. Without this function language would be almost useless. • Learning the names of things allows us to refer quickly and accurately to them. • We use names to classify different types of things, whether we call a shirt, a skirt, a trousers or a blouse makes a big difference.

Reasoning function (Instrument of thought) •Before we say something we think and to do that we necessarily use language. • It is extremely difficult to think about anything without any use of words. • It is also difficult not to think for a longer period of time as human brains work all the time processing information, thus providing us with concepts formulated by means of language. • The words are simply the expression of the ideas.

Communicating function •Function as the principle purpose of language. •Indeed it is in all likelihood most commonly used language function by majority of speakers. •Requesting, apologizing, informing, ordering as well as promising and refusing are all reasons for communicating our ideas. • Communication is a two- way process. - We use language to express ourselves to others , and conversely we need it in order to understand what they are communicating to us.

Pleasure functions •The fact that language often gives pleasure both to the speakers and listeners is not only supported by the frequent use of assonance, alliteration and onomatopoeia in poetry. • People also derive pleasure from unusual use of syntactic rules, as well as novelties of meanings juxtapositions and language games, which is often used by skilful writers. • This pleasure is important in language learning.( children respond as much to the melody of the language as to any cognitive content)