Modern Theories & Functions of Language – ENG621

ByDr. Samina Nadeem

September 15, 2014.

Objectives

• Course details: • The course aims to introduce

students to the philosophy of language and general issues related to this field. It reflects on all the important basic theories of language that were produced in the past and were extended to the present due to their continuous application. It will also project interdependence between the field of language and literature to promote the use of language, its application and the context for creating a meaningful situation.

•To develop understanding of the relation between language and philosophy

•To explore some major philosophers and their philosophy of language

•To explore the theories and functions of language

•To explore the application of theoretical frameworks in language and literature studies

Program learning goals:

• Student Learning Outcomes: • 1. Recognize theoretical approaches to language

and theories of language and philosophy distinctly.

• 2. Identify language issues to give an evaluative analysis

• 3. Critically analyze and review the works of different linguists and theorists.

• 4. Practically apply the knowledge to different genre for a comprehensive understanding of the course

• 5. Develop and propose some measures to link various philosophies with other modern language in use

• 6. Present a well-argued and logically structured research proposal orally and in a form of a written report.

1) Specialist knowledge: Students will have the ability to understand and apply a substantial body of knowledge at the frontier of the relevant field. 2) Research capability: Students will have the ability to undertake research that makes an original contribution in the relevant field. 3) Communication: Students will have the ability to communicate research effectively in the scholarly community.

Introduction to Language and Philosophy

• Communicative Functions of Language• Communication and Performance• Mind and Language• Traditions in Philosophy of Language• Philosophical models of language learning• Conversation analysis

Communicative Functions of Language

• Karl Buhler (1933-34)- Three distinct elements: sender-recipient-topic- Termed them as: expression (emotive)-appeal-

representation (descriptive function)- Speech acts to exemplify functions:

- 1st ;Assertion: The cat is on the mat.- 2nd ; Grammatical: interjections (oh, ouch, ahha)- 3rd ; Vocative/imperative: Hey you, My friend, go,

listen

Functions ……….cont.• Habermas (1992) / Jakobson (1990)- Intentionistic (semantics)-formal semantics- social pragmatics

(use-theory of meanings)or / expression-representation-appeal

Eg: I assert that the cat is on the mat. (explicit)* yes/no attitude (implicit attitude of the inter locuter)*Discursive challenges (when doubts are produced)*Metalingual function: (refers to codes within which sign may be

interpreted)*Phatic function: contact between sender and addressee (lend me

your ear) *Poetic function: focused on the message for its own sake) ALL FUNCTIONS ARE IN COMPLEX RELATIONSHIP WITH

ONEANOTHER NOT IN ISOLATION

Communication and Performance

• Wittgensteinian (1958)- Language game: language and actions woven

together- To speak is to make a move in the language

game / utterances are governed by rules / subject to normative assessments (message received or failed)

Communication and Performance – cont.• Austin (1979)- Sole business of any utterance is to be true or at least to be false- All assertions are declarative statements in terms of their truth

or falsity- Non declarative (interrogatives or imperatives) are parasitic

upon the declarative use of language- Examples: I appologize (stepping on the toe); I name this ship

Queen Elizabeth; I bet you six pence it will rain tomorrow.- Two types of linguistic acts: locutionary acts(performatives) and

illocutionary (constatives) / {performative deception, distortion or prevention – ex. I welcome you / but treat badly when somebody enters}

- Third type: Perlocutionary:convincing, scaring, enlightening{psychological consequences}

Mind and Language

Mind and Language – cont…

• Much of the language function is processed in several association areas of the brain and there are two well-defined vital for human communication are dominant hemisphere, 97% important for language processing, between auditory and visual cortex, posterior section of the lobe is in charge of most of language comprehension. {Carl Wernicke 1874 & Broca – production of speech, conceptual semantics by Jackendoff 1976, lexical semantics-what words denote Pustejovsky 1995)

Mind and Language cont……

Traditions in Philosophy of Language• Charles Taylor (1985)Two different Semantic traditionsi. Designative tradition: denotation of word-object

based on epistemology (knowledge, believe, truth, justification, understanding) cognitive, objectivist, descriptivist

A] naturalists; exhaustive accounts of languageB] nominalists; general application to the object

/properties [Existentialism]ii. Expressive tradition: developed by Romantic

philosophers in 19th Century [who we are, how we

think, how we live.] Intensionalism

Philosophical models of language learning

• Kripke S.A. (1982) & Quine Wv (1953); -holistic view of language /-pragmatic approach /- Mathmatical logic- Metaphysics- Set theory (Algebra / all mathematical objects)

Conversation Functions & analysis • Crystal D. (1997) A. Eight functions of language i.e to communicate

(primary function)i. Express emotion (swearing), ii social interaction (bless you) iii. Use

of sounds (cheeeeeng by children especially) iv. Environmental control (spell), v. record facts vi to think with vii. Express identity (demonstration) viii. Manipulate language (humor, satire etc.)

B. Conversation Analysis• Turn-taking• Constructing sequences• Identifying and repairing problems• Employing gaze and movement• Conversational settings

References

• Medina, J. (2005) Language; Key Concepts in Philosophy, Continuum,

London

• Harley, T.A. (2008) The Psychology of Language, Psychology Press, New York