The Functions of interaction: a classification
system determined by the Open University
Instrumental function - language
used to get something done or
to carry out business
Control function:
language used to
control the behaviour
of others or act in a
way we want. e.g
(parents and chidlren)
Stimulation function: telling jokes and stories
to amuse and entertain ourselves
Information function: to pass information
or request information
Role- related function: language we are expected
to use to fulfil our specific roles. e.g wedding
service or a parent.
Expression function:
expressing our ideas, feelings
and attitudes
Alleviation of Anxiety function: talking about
fears and problems can make them seem
more manageable
Social contact function: language used to open,
establish and maintain relationships with people
Thurnows Classification of
communication functions
H.P Grice
The Co-Operative Principle
The Maxim of Relation: make sure whatever you say is relevant
to the conversation
Maxim of Quality: make sure whatever you say it
true and there is evidence to what you say
Maxim of Quantity: make sure that what you
say is necessary - no more and no less
Maxim of Manner: make sure it's clear and it's easy to
understand
Often speakers break the maxims but think they're still using the co-operative
principle
Flouting a maxim: not using the maxim/not following it. This
is accidental
Violating a maxim: Don't want the person to understand.
Deliberately not co-operating e.g lying
Implicatures: implying something, hidden meanings - trying to
say more
Wanted to explain the contextual conditions
which had to be met for us to communicate
meanings effectively. He created 4 Maxims
Found that we often don't follow the maxims strongly. However
we still manage to communicate our ideas
This is because listeners assume we are trying to communicate and
therefore make what we say fit the maxims.
Limitations
The maxims aren't always used and yet we can still
have effective conversations.
Focuses on the transactional functions and ignores
interactional sides of language.
Face Theory:
Erving Goffman created the term face to describe the public persona we
present in interaction. He suggests we are constantly playing a role and
presenting 'a version' of ourselves to others.
Brown and Levinson built on Goffman's ideas and defined 'face' as something that we're emotionally invested
in and can be lost, maintained or enhanced.
Positive face: we want to look good and be noticed. We created a self image that
can be appreciated
Negative face: we don't want to get involved in something
We try not to make face threatening acts to others in conversation and
therefore we use 'facework' to avoid this.
Politeness Principle
- Robin Lakoff
Created the politeness principle to explain
why we flout Grice's maxims
Lakoff proposed 3 maxims: Don't impose, Give
options and Make the reciever(s) feel good
Turn Taking:
Pauses can occur between a turn finishing and
a turn starting.
Overlaps are frequent. They happen when simultaaneous speech
occurs etc when one turn starts and another ends. They are a sign of
one speaker being keen to begin or slightly anticipating the end of a
turn.
Interruptions happen when a turn shifts from one speaker
to another before the first speaker has finished their
utterance.
Kenneth Wardhaugh - How conversation works
says there is several reasons for
interruptions - to seek clarification, to
correct and to challenge
Deborah Tannen
Identified two different styles of turn taking - high
involvement style and high considerateness style.
High-involvement style: this involves a lot of simultaneous speech in the form of
interruptions and overlaps. = a high level of positive engagement and
enthusiasm.
High-considerateness style: Speakers are allowed to finish fully and any
simultaneous speech creates apologies and withdrawal. = Respect for the
speaker
Effect of CHANNEL on textual variation
Channel is how it exists so sounds,
symbols and letters