1. Referential Function: This function focuses on the context of the message. It aims to provide information about the world, convey facts, and refer to objects, events, and concepts.
* Example: "The sun is shining today."
2. Expressive Function: This function focuses on the sender of the message. It expresses the speaker's feelings, attitudes, and emotions.
* Example: "Wow, that sunset is beautiful!"
3. Conative Function: This function focuses on the receiver of the message. It aims to influence, persuade, or direct the recipient's behavior.
* Example: "Please pass the salt."
4. Phatic Function: This function focuses on the channel of communication. It ensures the communication channel is open and functioning, maintaining contact between sender and receiver.
* Example: "Hello? Can you hear me?"
5. Metalingual Function: This function focuses on the code of language itself. It uses language to talk about language.
* Example: "The word 'cat' is spelled 'c-a-t'."
6. Poetic Function: This function focuses on the message itself. It emphasizes the aesthetic and artistic qualities of language, using metaphors, rhymes, and other literary devices.
* Example: "The road goes ever on and on, / Down from the door where it began."
These functions are not mutually exclusive and can often overlap in a single utterance. For example, a poem could have a poetic function (focusing on language itself) and a referential function (referring to a specific topic).
Understanding these functions helps us analyze and interpret communication in various contexts.