3. Functions of language

Language is used for various purposes: to refer to the objects of the physical world, to name the respective concepts, to communicate one’s thoughts, to accumulate information, to evoke aesthetic feelings, etc. In this case, linguistics says that language performs a number of functions (see Figure 2.3).

FUNCTIONS OF LANGUAGE

Figure 2.3. Functions of language

• Referential function: language refers to the entities of the physical and non-physical world.

• Cognitive function: language designates concepts in the mind –the mental images of real or fictitious objects.

• Communicative function: language is the major tool of human interaction.

Phatic function: language is used to establish, maintain, and disrupt contact (e.g. small talk, greetings and farewells).

Informative function: language is used to convey information.

Emotive function: language is used to manifest emotions (e.g. Oh! Gee!).

Volitional function: language is used to inform of the speaker’s will (e.g. (requests, commands, orders, etc.).

The above functions are usually performed together, e.g. Get out of here! (informative, volitional, and emotive functions).

• Accumulative function: language accumulates and stores information.

• Aesthetic function: similarly to the works of art, linguistic creations evoke aesthetic feelings (e.g. poetry).

4. Origin of language

The issue of the origin of language is within the scope of glottogenesis that centers on the hypotheses as to how human language began. Till present, such hypotheses do not have enough evidence to develop them into full-fledged theories. Glottogenesis is opposed to protolinguogenesis that attempts to describe the initial stages of language existence, to expose its proto-forms from which a number of particular languages developed. Protolinguogenesis, which results in the genealogical classification of languages, is based on evidence – the linguistic forms at the early stages of their evolution. Glottogenesis focuses on two questions: Where does human language come from? What were the first words of language?

(1) As to the source of language, it has been hypothesized that:

• language has been given to humans by God, Hero or Teacher;

• language is a natural phenomenon inborn in human species;

• language is a social phenomenon: it evolves through interaction among humans in the family or tribe;

• language is an inborn faculty, but this faculty develops only in the society (the contemporary hypothesis).

(2) The hypotheses about the initial words of language maintain that:

• the first words imitated the sounds of nature (the Sound Imitation Hypothesis);

• the first words were either physiological cries or rhythmic sounds which facilitated work (the Interjection Hypothesis);

• people agreed about linking particular sounds to particular meanings (the Social Agreement Hypothesis);

• the initial words appeared as both sound imitations and interjections; further, the social agreement came into play (the contemporary synthetic hypothesis).

(See Aitchison, pp. 19-20).