CO2.

1 Functions of Communication
Thursday, 26 August 2021 7:06 AM

Display solid understanding of the various purposes of oral discourse in relationship to different contexts
and show critical thinking and problem-solving skills to understand the intricate link between audience,
speaker, and occasion

In Identifying the Best Function in Given Situation, Consider the following:

- Goal or Purpose
- Language Forms

FUNCTIONS OF COMMUNICATION
- Communication as a human activity always serves a function
- Refers to how humans use language for different purposes
- Jakobson, Halliday and Malinowski have categorized the different uses or functions of
communications as:

1. Regulation/Control
- "Regulation" is a rule or directive made and maintained by an authority
- "Control" is the power to influence or direct people's behavior or the course of events
○ For: persons in authority or representing authority to regulate or direct others under them
○ Function: influence or direct people's behavior or to limit/regulate
- Ex. Traffic aid gestures or blows whistle to direct traffic and pedestrians, an auctioneer says "going
once, going twice...sold" to end the bidding, religions setting laws, doctor's prescription

2. Social Interaction
- "spontaneous verbal exchanges occurring in natural settings that are typically familiar to the
interactants"
- Used to produce social relationships
- Develops bonds, intimacy, relations
- Formation and strengthening of Social Circles
- Used to express preferences, desires, needs, wants, decisions, goals, and strengths
- Ex. Marriage proposals, invitations, members of an organization having a conversation, etc.

 Dos and Don'ts

- Do not be overly familiar without superior or any person of authority. Address them appropriately
and show respect at all times
- Do not make inappropriate jokes or body contact
- Always show respect and courtesy
- Do not use loaded words
- In an argument, stick with the issue and not personal attacks

3. Motivation
- "the desire to do things", "crucial element in setting and attaining goals"
- Functions to motivate or encourage people to act on something/emotional support
- Using a language to express desires, needs, wants, likes and dislikes, indications, choices, and
aspirations
- Key communication function that aims to encourage people into action
- Motivating others through words and gestures is a skill you should develop so that you can
encourage and inspire the people around you in various ways
 - Motivational speakers are a great example
- Ex. Motivate someone to go and do something, simple pat on the back

4. Information Dissemination
- Face-to-face, mass media; is easier today to spread information due to technology, fact check
them
- Information gives people knowledge, and with this knowledge comes to the ability to make
informed choices
- To convey information
○ Among news agencies, customer service, and technical support sectors whose objectives are to
share important information to clients
○ Though face-to-face interactions through mass media, and through the internet to name a few
- Accurate information is crucial information, especially since the failure to impart accurate info at
the right time may result in negative consequences.

5. Emotional Expression
- Facilitates people's expression of their feelings and emotion
- Humans always need to express their emotions verbally or nonverbally; emotions are a central
part of who we are
- You express yourself emotionally through words and gesture. The closer the relationship or the
tighter and more familiar the circle you are in, the easier it is for you to communicate how you
feel
- Ways of how people express feelings vary; you may wear it on your sleeve, while others are more
measured when they convey their emotions
- Some express emotions verbally, some do so by writing
- Others express positive emotions by giving gifts or through endearing physical gestures
- Ex. Giving own statements and situation, appreciation towards someone, expressing support and
affection

LANGUAGE FORMS
1. Imperatives - refer to statements it could whether command or give courteous request
2. Statements/Declaratives - Statements or commands that are stern
3. Rhetorical Questions - questions