Language and Discourse

Question 1

What are the five functions/uses of language? (Not forms!)

Identify and define.

Answer 1

1. informative (logical/to inform)
2. expressive (express attitudes)
3. directive (guide/command)
4. ceremonial (habitual?)
5. performative (performs its own function)

Question 2

What are the four forms of language? (Not functions/uses!)

Identify and define.

Answer 2

1. declarative (usually reasoning)
2. exclamatory (emotional!)
3. imperative (guide/command)
4. interrogative (questions)

Question 3

One can disagree on two fronts (or both simultaneously): in __________ and in __________.

Answer 3

a) attitude (subjective uptake of facts?)

b) belief (facts)

Question 4

What are the three types of dispute?

Identify and define.

Answer 4

1. obviously genuine dispute (true disagreement)
2. merely verbal dispute (clarifying ambiguities in language will resolve)
3. apparently verbal but really genuine dispute (clarifying ambiguities will resolve some issues, but also reveal genuine, i.e. non-verbal, disagreement)

Question 5

True or false: the functions/uses and forms of language are directly inflected in each other (e.g. informative –> declarative, expressive –> exclamatory, directive –> imperative)

Answer 5

False: function/use and form can happen in different combinations, especially given context.