Pragmatics

Question 1

What are Halliday’s 7 functions of speech?

Answer 1

1) Instrumental
2) Regulatory
3) Interactional
4) Personal
5) Representational
6) Imaginative
7) Heuristic

Question 2

Instrumental language is used to…

Answer 2

…fulfil a need (e.g. ‘want milk’).

Question 3

Regulatory language is used to…

Answer 3

…influence the behaviour of others (e.g. ‘pick up’).

Question 4

Interactional language is used to…

Answer 4

…develop and maintain social relationships (e.g. ‘love you’).

Question 5

Personal language is used to…

Answer 5

…convey individual opinions, ideas and personal identity (e.g. ‘me like Charlie and Lola’).

Question 6

Representational language is used to…

Answer 6

…convey facts and information (e.g. ‘it hot’)

Question 7

Imaginative language is used to…

Answer 7

…create an imaginary word and may be seen in play predominantly (e.g. ‘me shopkeeper’)

Question 8

Heuristic language is used to…

Answer 8

…learn about the environment (e.g ‘wassat?’)

Question 9

What does pragmatics involve?

Answer 9

• turn-taking
• context
• face needs
• Grice’s maxims
• politeness principles
• Halliday’s functions