Language

Language is a basic tool of communication. We often communicate our concepts, judgments and reasoning through language.

We use language while giving orders, describing an object or giving its measurement, reporting an event, speculating about an event, testing hypothesis, presenting the result of an experiment, making up a story, play acting, singing, telling a joke, solving a problem, greeting, praying and many more.

Basic Functions of Language

The basic functions of language are informative, expressive and directive.

Informative Function:

Language serves as informative function when it is used to convey information. When it is used to convey information. We are often informed or inform others about something, here information includes false as well as true propositions, bad arguments as well as good ones.

Expressive Function:

Language serves as expressive function, when it is used to convey or evoke feelings. We often express serious when we say “what a pity!” enthusiasm we express, when we say, “that’s really great!”. The expressive function is performing in poetry in which a poet conveys his or her own feelings and also evokes ours too.

“Match me such marvel, save in eastern clime

A rose-red city, half as old as time.”

The above verses are from the poetry of John Burgon, which evokes feeling while describing the ancient city of Petra.

Directive Function:

Language serves as directive function when it is used to cause or present an action. For example, when I say…. (Please, Pass the salt). My intentions here are neither to communicate information nor to express feeling but my language is to get result, which is to have a salt put within reach.