“The human being speaks. We speak in waking and in sleep. We talk non-stop, even when we do not say a word, but rather listen or read; We talk whether we dedicate ourselves to a task or if we abandon ourselves in leisure. We talk constantly one way or another. We speak, because speaking is innate to the human being. Speaking is not born of a particular act of the will. Man is said to be a speaker by nature. The traditional teaching says that man is, unlike the plant and the beast, the living being capable of speaking. This statement does not mean that man possesses, along with other faculties, the ability to speak. Rather, it means that it is language itself that makes man capable of being the living being that he is as man. Man is man insofar as he is capable of speaking. " MARTIN HEIDEGGER.
"Language is a kind of latent structure in the human mind, which is developed and fixed by exposure to a specific linguistic experience."
NOAM CHOMSKY
In generic terms, one speaks of LANGUAGE whenever there is a set of signs of the same nature, whose primary function is to allow communication between organisms. In this way, one hears about the language of bees, the language of music, the language of flowers, the language of colors and even the "language of love." But we can ask ourselves: What do all these supposed languages have in common?
In short, it seems that the essential criteria for a set of signs to constitute a language - in a broad and everyday sense - are reduced to two: first, that those signs are of the same nature; and second, that they serve primarily the communication of a group of organisms with each other.
In the following work, the concept of language, its importance and its functions will be considered so that it serves as a basis for the development of the Language and Communication course and for the application of improvements in our personal and professional development.
1.- Definition
Language is an abstract category with which the communication of a given information through different media is designated. Language uses signs that convey meanings.
The human language has the ability to articulate the signs forming complex structures that acquire new capabilities significance. Philosophers like Martin Heidegger consider that language itself is only exclusive to man. His thesis is famous according to which language is the house of being (Haus des Seins) and the abode of the essence of man.
According to Ferdinand Saussure, language is made up of language and speech:
- Language (langue): also called language, especially for extralinguistic uses. It is a general and constant pattern for all members of a linguistic community. Humans create an infinite number of communications from a finite number of elements, for example through schemes or concept maps. The representation of this capacity is what we know as language, that is, the code. Speak (parole): materialization or momentary recreation of this model in each member of the linguistic community. It is an individual and voluntary act in which, through acts of phonation and writing, the speaker uses the language to communicate. They are the various manifestations of speech those that make evolve to the lengua.El dialectIt is the geographic variation of a language, (for example the Spanish spoken in the Dominican Republic and the Spanish spoken in Madrid). Languages are expressed with distinctive features in each region or social group. These distinctive features can be phonic, morphological, syntactic, semantic and pragmatic.
2.- Importance
Language is a means of communication, exclusive to human beings. We all use it and the success or failure we have, in the different aspects of our lives, will depend, to a large extent, on the way we use it.
Rich, different, exclusive ideas can nest in our minds, but they will be of no use if we are not able to transmit them. We are not always aware of this.
Learning a language is learning to communicate effectively, it is knowing how to transmit our thoughts to others, it is trying to understand those of our fellow men.
Good language is confused with complicated language.
Most adults believe that the more elaborate expressions you use, the more difficult the words, the longer the texts, the better your language.
Good language is not measured by quantity, but by effectiveness.
Our duty as users of a language is to respect it: to speak and write correctly. And, to achieve it, you have to work. Nothing is learned without dedication and, in the case of the language, day by day we are faced with doubts, with hesitations…
Society ruthlessly judges the good use of language. An exam, a job, a promotion… can be lost due to an error in expression, in spelling, or in comprehensibility.
Language matters whatever our cultural level. Depending on how we use it, doors will be closed or opened. Adults, above all, must become aware of this and dedicate time, effort, study, to improve their expression.
3.- Language functions according to Roman Jakobson
Jakobson raises the communication theory model. According to this model, the process of linguistic communication involves six constitutive factors that configure or structure it as such.
- The sender It corresponds to the one who emits the message. The receiver receives the message, is the recipient. The message is the experience that is received and transmitted with the communication.
But for the message to reach the sender to the receiver, it is necessary in addition to:
- The linguistic code that consists of "an organized set of units and combination rules typical of each natural language." And finally, the channel, which allows establishing and maintaining communication between sender and receiver.
This model allows establishing six essential functions of language inherent to all linguistic communication processes, and directly related to the six factors mentioned in the previous model.
Therefore, the functions of language are emotional, conative, referential, metalinguistic, phatic and poetic.
It is important to introduce the concept of language functions. The functions of the language those expressions of the same that can transmit the attitudes of the issuer (of the speaker, in oral communication and of the writer, in written communication) in front of the communicative process.
Language is used to communicate a reality (be it affirmative, negative or of possibility), a wish, an admiration, or to ask or give an order. Depending on how we use the different sentences that express these realities, it will be the function that language plays.
The language has six functions:
- Emotive function Conative function Referential function Metalinguistic function Phatic function Poetic function
1. Emotional function: the message emitted by the sender refers to what he feels, his intimate self, predominating him, over all the other factors that constitute the communication process.
The linguistic forms in which this function is performed correspond to interjections and exclamatory sentences.
Ex.: - Oh! What a headache!
- How nice to see you!
-How delicious the dessert!
2. Conative Function: the receiver predominates over the other factors of communication, since communication is centered on the person of the you, who is expected to perform an act or response.
The linguistic forms in which the conative function is preferably performed correspond to the vocative and the imperative and interrogative sentences.
Ex:
- Pedro, please bring more coffee
- Did you bring the letter?
- Andrés, close the window, please
3. Referential function: The act of communication is focused on the context, that is, on the subject or issue that is being referred to. Declarative or enunciative sentences are used, and can be affirmative or negative.
Ex:
- Man is a rational animal The Ozone formula is O3 It is not cold Classes are suspended until the third hour
4. Metalinguistic function: It focuses on the code of the language itself. It is the code that is the predominant factor.
Eg - Pedrito does not know many words and asks his father: What does the word “scoundrel” mean?
- Ana meets a friend and says to her: Sara, what surgical operation are you referring to?
5. Phatic function: It consists of starting, interrupting, continuing or ending communication. For this purpose there are Greeting Formulas (Good morning, Hello !, How are you? Who? and Formulas that are used to Interrupt a conversation and then continue it (Excuse me….., Wait a minute…, As I was saying…, We were talking about…, etc.).
6. Poetic function: It is used preferably in literature. The act of communication is centered on the message itself, on its disposition, on the way it is transmitted. Among the expressive resources used are rhyme, alliteration, etc.
Ex: -
"Well dressed, well received"
- "Casa Zabala, which when selling, gives away"
One of the most popular proposals in our century is the one presented by the Austrian linguist Karl Bühler in his work Theory of Language (1967). Bühler takes up Plato's scheme in which it is said that language is an organum to "communicate something to another about things."
Bühler identifies three basic functions of language: the representative function, related precisely to the context, to the things alluded to (symbols); the expressive function, linked to the sender, whose interiority expresses (symptom), and the appellate function, linked to the receiver, insofar as it is an appeal to the listener, in order to direct their behavior (signal). Thus, a linguistic statement is "a signal for the listener, a symptom of something in the speaker and a symbol of the objective content that it transmits." We will briefly analyze each of these functions.
1.- Representative function:
Also called referential, cognitive or informative function. This function is fundamental in linguistic communication and is present in all those statements that give an account of reality, of the objects of the universe.
The representative function consists in this "saying something about things", in making reference to the world of objects and their relationships through language. When the primary objective of language is to provide information about something, we are faced with the representative function:
"A stalactite is a calcareous concretion formed by water in the vault of caves."
"The integral formation of the person has not been the main purpose of our educational system."
This function also includes the exercise of the cognitive level of language. Therefore, it implies the development of cognitive processes such as observation, comparison, conceptualization, classification, etc.
"The sum of the interior angles of every triangle is equal to 1800".
Finally, we can say that the representative function is clearly manifested in scientific postulates, in technical or didactic texts and, in general, in all linguistic communication of an expository or informative nature.
2. Expressive function:
Also called emotional or symptomatic function. This function allows the sender to express their attitudes, feelings and moods, as well as their desires, wishes, socioeconomic status and the degree of interest or passion with which they carry out a certain communication. This function is fulfilled, therefore, when the message is centered on the sender:
"I'm so lonely, love, that to my room / just go up, step after step, / the old winding staircase."
JUAN M. ROCA
It is good to clarify that expressiveness does not occur apart from the representative, but is a function of language that allows a projection of the subject of the enunciation but based on a representativeness. Thus, in common expressions such as "that woman fascinates me" or what a beautiful morning!, Without a doubt, the expressive function predominates, but with a support of symbolic representation given by the allusion to some references.
It can be said that the expressive or emotional function is manifested thanks to the affective or connotative meanings that are established on the basis of the denoting meanings: when we speak, we express our state of mind, our attitudes or our membership in a social group, we give information about ourselves, we show symptoms, although we are not always fully aware of it.
3. Appellate function:
It is important to clarify first that Bühler understands the appeal as the property of influencing through words the attitudes, thoughts and behavior of the interlocutor.
Well, we are in the presence of the appellative or conative function when the message is addressed to the listener in the form of an order, command, exhortation, requirement or, simply, with the purpose of attracting their attention.
There is no doubt that the way we express ourselves conditions the listener: Don't you want to go to the movies with me? ”,“ I beg you, please, not to come back ”,“ stay in your room ”,“ Sir, allow me your driving license ”, and many other expressions of everyday language that have this interactive character, evidence this function.
The vocative and the imperative are the grammatical forms that express the appellative function in a more direct way: “Fernando, human existence has been a dangerous game at all times and times”, “Sit in the sun”.
Other authors also include within this function the normative (regulations, laws), the interactional (letters, invitations), the instrumental (recipes, manuals), the heuristics (questionnaires, surveys) and the dramatic (plays).
CONCLUSIONS
At the end of this work it can be concluded that language is a symbolic system that has the following characteristics:
- It develops as a knowledge and as a practice. We recognize two levels: a knowledge of the language and the corresponding exercise. Sounds are used and the vocal - auditory channel is used. As a consequence, linguistic messages are received in a certain direction: the direction in which the sender is. It is a system that possesses creativity. The signs of language are born from a tacit social consensus. In verbal language, the relationship between the signs and the users is characterized by the fact that the users are indistinctly emitters and receivers, and that the sender is always at the same time the receiver of its own emission. It fulfills various functions, in addition to communicative activity. There is no unanimous criterion among linguists as to whether the communicative function of language is primary or not. So,Roman Jakobson considers that the fundamental function of language is to serve as an “instrument of communication”.
Finally, it can be affirmed that historically language has been the main protagonist in the process of man's evolution, thanks to language man has been able to organize himself in groups or communities, developing his own language for each region or group.
REFERENCES
AAVV, The Language. Available at: (Consulted 2008, January 29)
AAVV, The Language. Available at:
DUBOURG. M, The importance of language. Available at http://www.todo.com.uy/lenguaje/index.html (Consulted 2008, January 29)
LECAROS. A, Language functions. Available at http://aprendelenguaje.blogspot.com/ (Consulted 2008, January 29)
SORIANO. G, The importance of language. Available at:
(Consulted 2008, January 29)
