Language and its Social

Functions
What is language?
• Language is a system that helps people
express thoughts, feelings, and meaning
through symbols and sounds.
• Throughout history, language has played
important roles in social and cultural
functions.
What is the social function of
language?
• The social function of language refers to
the way we relate language to our
relationships with other people. This
means it's how we use language and how
we communicate in a social setting.
Hey Shei. I'm sorry, boss. I feel sick to my
stomach. I'm gonna need to take the day
off.
Hi Dr. Lasala. I'm sorry, boss, but I feel
very sick today. I'm going to need to take
the day off.
Which of the examples uses word forms
that are a socially acceptable way to
communicate with your supervisor or
principal?
 These are examples of indirect social
cues we use in language to express how
we view ourselves in comparison to
someone else in society. The way we form
phrases or words, despite their variations
having the same meanings, helps us
understand things like social standing when
two people interact with one another.
 Language varies according to the
nature of the society, what kind of people,
and their attitudes. People use language
according to their situation. The social
background of any person can play an
important role in the kind of language he
has.
 Functions of Language
(Geoffery Leech, 1974)

Informational
Expressive
Directive
Aesthetic
Phatic
Informational Function
“Informational function which every one
tends to assume is most important” Geoffery
Leech(1974). In fact, this function concentrates on
the message. It is used to give new information. It
depends on truth and value.
Example: The car is big.
The bus is crowded.
Expressive Function
“Language can have an expressive function:
that is, it can be used to express its originator’s
feelings and attitudes – swear words and
exclamations are the most obvious instance of
this”. Geoffery Leech( 1974 ). The speaker or
writer of this function tries to express his feelings.
He or she reflexes his or her impression. This
function could give a clear image for the
personality of the speaker or writer.
Example: Poetry and literature
Directive Function
“The third function of language is the directive
function whereby we aim to influence the behavior or
attitudes of others. The most straightforward
instances of the directive function are commands and
requests. This function of social control places
emphasis on the receiver’s end, rather than the
originator’s end of the message: but it resembles the
expressive function in giving less importance, on the
whole, to conceptual meaning than to other types of
meaning, particularly affective and connotative
meaning” Geoffery Leech( 1974 ).
Aesthetic Function
“The use of language for the sake of the linguistic
artifact itself, and for no purpose. This aesthetic
function can have at least as much to do with
conceptual as with affective meaning” Geoffery
Leech( 1974 ). All art understood as art is taken to
embody this function, and any object valued for its
beauty rather than for its ideological value or
usefulness-whether a gorgeous car, an elegant
teapot, or some acreage of untouched real estate-
takes on this function.
Phatic Function
“The function of keeping communication lines
open, and keeping social relationships in good
repair ( in Britain culture, talking about the
weather is a well-known example of this)”
Geoffery Leech( 1974 ). We can say about this
function that it is used for normal talks.
 Functions of Language
(Michael Halliday, 1975)

Instrumental
Personal
Interactional
Regulatory
Representational
Heuristic
Imaginative
Instrumental Function
Instrumental language is used to
communicate preferences, choices, wants,
or needs.

“I want to...”
Personal Function
Personal language is used to express
individuality.
Interactional Function
Interactional language is used to interact and
plan, develop, or maintain a play or group activity
or social relationship
"You and me....""I'll be the cashier,...."
Regulatory Function
Regulatory language is used to control

"Do as I tell you...."

"You need...."
Representational Function
Representational use language to explain.
Heuristic Function
Heuristic language is used to find things out,
wonder, or hypothesize.

"Tell me why...."
"Why did you do that?“
"What for?"
Imaginative Function
Imaginative language is used to create, explore,
and entertain

"Let's pretend...."
"I went to my grandma's last night."