Common Purposes or Functions of Language

by Carol J. Orwig

Complete Table of Contents

Summary

This book is an inventory of some of the purposes for which people commonly use language. It lists these communicative functions in sections, such as Social Functions, Information Processing Functions, Survival functions. This information can be useful for planning or evaluating your language learning.

considering available resources and your own needs, and how to develop your own syllabus, unit plans and daily plans.

Common purposes or functions of language

What is a communicative function?

Survival functions: Meeting your most basic needs

Social functions: Interacting with other people

Functions used when socializing

Functions used in establishing and maintaining relationships

Functions involving barriers

Functions involving influencing people

Functions involving feedback

Functions involved in arguing

Functions involving avoiding trouble

Self-expressive functions

Functions involving expressing opinions

Functions involving expressing emotions

Cognitive functions

Functions for managing conversations