Português - Aula 12 - Funções da Linguagem

Summary

In this lesson, Professor Fábio Dávila explains the functions of language in communication. He covers the five main functions: emotive (focusing on the sender's emotions), referential (centered on information), conative (aiming to persuade the receiver), phatic (ensuring communication channels are open), and metalinguistic (where language explains itself). The lecture emphasizes how these functions can coexist and highlights how context determines which one predominates. Additionally, the function of poetics is discussed, where the form of communication takes precedence, making each text unique. The lesson concludes with encouragement to continue practicing and using the provided study materials.

Takeaways

• 😀 Functions of language refer to the elements of the communicative process: the sender, the receiver, the message, the channel, and the code used.
• 😀 The emotive or expressive function centers on the sender and their expression of opinions or emotions, like in poetry or personal reflections.
• 😀 The referential function focuses on objective information or facts, without subjective opinions, such as when providing an address or reading a street sign.
• 😀 The conative or apelative function focuses on the receiver, aiming to persuade or convince them, commonly seen in advertisements or calls to action.
• 😀 The fatic function is related to the communication channel, ensuring its opening, maintenance, and closure, like saying 'Hello' or 'Is anyone there?' to test communication.
• 😀 The metalinguistic function involves using language to explain or define itself, such as using a dictionary to clarify the meaning of a word.
• 😀 The poetic function highlights the form of the message, ensuring uniqueness and creativity in how a message is expressed, not just the content.
• 😀 The poetic function is not exclusive to poetry; it can be found in any text where the form of expression matters as much as the content.
• 😀 In writing essays, both the emotive and referential functions can appear together, with emotional expression and objective information coexisting.
• 😀 Understanding and identifying the dominant function of language in a text is key for interpreting its purpose, whether for expression, information, persuasion, or creativity.

Q & A

What are the elements of the communicative process mentioned in the script?

The elements of the communicative process include the sender (emissor), the receiver (receptor), the referent (referente), the message (mensagem), the communication channel (canal de comunicação), and the code used (código).

What is the focus of the emotive or expressive function of language?

The emotive or expressive function focuses on the sender (emissor) and their expression of opinions and feelings. It is predominant in contexts like poetry or when someone expresses their personal opinion.

How does the referential function of language differ from the emotive function?

The referential function centers on the content or objective information without the expression of personal opinions. It is used when providing factual information, such as giving an address or reading a street name.

Can the referential and emotive functions occur simultaneously in a text?

Yes, both the referential and emotive functions can appear together in a text. For example, in a student essay, the author may both inform and express opinions.

What is the primary purpose of the conative or apelative function?

The conative or apelative function focuses on the receiver (receptor) and aims to persuade or convince the audience. It is commonly seen in advertisements or campaigns.

What role does the fatic function play in communication?

The fatic function is concerned with the communication channel itself, ensuring its opening, maintenance, and closure. Examples include greetings or verifying if someone is present before speaking.

How does the metalinguistic function differ from the other functions?

The metalinguistic function is focused on the code or language itself, explaining or clarifying the meaning of words or expressions. A dictionary definition is a prime example of the metalinguistic function.

How does the poetic function manifest in a text?

The poetic function emphasizes the form of the message rather than the content. It focuses on making the text unique, as seen in poetry or individual expressions in writing, even in non-poetic contexts like essays.

What distinguishes poetry from a poem according to the script?

Poetry refers to the content, while a poem refers to the form. A poem may contain various types of content, including non-poetic subjects like a recipe, but the form remains poetic.

Why is the poetic function important in writing an essay or a dissertation?

The poetic function is important because it ensures that each person's expression is unique. Even though many students may write about the same topic, their individual approach and expression make each piece distinct.