Roman Jakobson
Roman Jakobson was a smart man who studied words and their meanings. He was born a long time ago in Russia, and he was really interested in how people use language to communicate with each other. Roman Jakobson made a very important discovery about language. He said that when people speak, there are six different things they are doing at once. He called them "functions."
The first function is called the "referential function." This is when you use language to give information about the world around you. For example, if you say "the sky is blue," you are using language to tell someone about the color of the sky.
The second function is the "emotive function." This is when you use language to express your emotions or feelings. For example, if you say "I'm so excited!" you are using language to express your excitement.
The third function is the "conative function." This is when you use language to influence someone else's behavior. For example, if you say "Please pass the salt," you are using language to influence someone to do something.
The fourth function is the "phatic function." This is when you use language to establish or maintain social relationships with others. For example, if you say "Hi, how are you?" you are using language to establish a connection with someone.
The fifth function is the "metalinguistic function." This is when you use language to talk about language itself. For example, if you say "The word 'cat' has three letters," you are using language to talk about language.
The sixth function is the "poetic function." This is when you use language in a way that is creative and artistic. For example, if you say "The sun sinks low, casting its golden glow," you are using language in a poetic way.
Roman Jakobson was a very important thinker because he helped us understand that language is not just about giving information, but it can also be used in many different ways.
The first function is called the "referential function." This is when you use language to give information about the world around you. For example, if you say "the sky is blue," you are using language to tell someone about the color of the sky.
The second function is the "emotive function." This is when you use language to express your emotions or feelings. For example, if you say "I'm so excited!" you are using language to express your excitement.
The third function is the "conative function." This is when you use language to influence someone else's behavior. For example, if you say "Please pass the salt," you are using language to influence someone to do something.
The fourth function is the "phatic function." This is when you use language to establish or maintain social relationships with others. For example, if you say "Hi, how are you?" you are using language to establish a connection with someone.
The fifth function is the "metalinguistic function." This is when you use language to talk about language itself. For example, if you say "The word 'cat' has three letters," you are using language to talk about language.
The sixth function is the "poetic function." This is when you use language in a way that is creative and artistic. For example, if you say "The sun sinks low, casting its golden glow," you are using language in a poetic way.
Roman Jakobson was a very important thinker because he helped us understand that language is not just about giving information, but it can also be used in many different ways.