What is language and speech? How does language differ from speech?

The complexity of the definition of “speech” and “language” involves ambiguity and is related as synonyms. Outstanding research highlights the series important aspects in the reference of language and speech, which brings us closer to a review of differences.

General meaning of “language” and “speech”

One of the first who decided to designate general construction language F. de Saussure. He outlined the entire pedagogical process of conversation and listening general formulation– speech activity, which means a system of elementary phrases, statements and words. The difficulty in concluding language from speech is that language is conditionally assigned to the philosophical subtype, and speech is assigned to the linguistic direction. Such conditions of separation provide targeted general scientific discussions, the mission of which is to find a general theoretical basis for the human speech function.

Language as an integral part of speech permeates all speech and its versatility. In the sound of human speech, everything is interpreted by the accidental or indirect effect of speech. Therefore, there is no sharp difference between the boundaries of language and speech, these are not similar ideas various indicators formalization of the generality of objective specifics. Let's take a closer look at both of these definitions to understand the difference.

The significance of the definition of “language”

Language is interpreted in an all-encompassing way, connecting lexical and grammatical signs and combining them into an active structure. This is a recognized linguocultural statement regarding the particular speech function of each person. Mastering the art of language, we instinctively apply ready-made form based speech, construction of figures of speech, their combination. Let's remember lexical meaning phrases and their direction of meaning and variation. Speech is allowed to be detailed with a universalized expression of thought ending in a common language. Language originates and is modernized in the public environment and is integral to such an understanding as a people and a nation.

Main features national language transmit a sample word form only if there is a relationship between individuals. Extraordinary emergence continuously conveys an established degree of generalized understanding, which regards language as a way to express feelings, reasoning and experiences. Language is anchored by a demanding linguistic fundamental consistency and observed by perfect integrity. Language is changeable and flexible and these properties are found in dialect, rumor and adverb. Distinctive feature speech function is individual for each language owner.

Formulating the meaning of “speech”

Lexicographers explain the word “speech” as the action of the turnover of the capacity to display emotions and imagination or speech perception of spoken verbal information. It is understood that in the formulation of speech, current circumstances and connections of the expressed thoughts of a multi-dimensional language are used, as well as the process of boiling and its consequences. The interpretation of speech determines the similarity of the auditory memory of a person, in which there should be no intelligible inhibitory speech function.

Speech is perceived as the use of language in real circumstances, resulting in the formation of the concept of the versatility of language. Using the well-known and popular subtleties of language, they express objective characteristics that separate them into duration of speech, tempo, stage of loudness, articulatory clarity, pronunciation have only an indirect connection to the language.

The distinctive feature of language distinguishes man from the world and living nature by spiritual foundation and physical appearance. The perception of language reveals the constant vital activity of the spirit rushing into the transformation of sounds and thinking. Based on this, it follows that the awareness of a person’s behavior during the formation of speech affects the entire process of self-development of speech.

Differences between language and speech

At the outset of the study, the dissimilarity between language and speech lies in the fact that language is considered an instrument of contact between speech, as an action of interrelation in a person’s conversation. Speech is characterized by loud or quiet features, as well as fast or slow, long or short speech and these features are not inherent in language. The variety of speech includes a monologue subtype, when the interlocutor only listens, and a dialogic type, when the listener participates in the conversation, and this specificity means that language cannot include these varieties.

Language is defined as a sign theory that has two directions of syntagmatics and semantics, but if speech is defined as a sign system, then the direction of pragmatics is added. During the conversation, we distribute characterizing subtleties of speech such as multiple repetitions various elements languages that stand out in certain circumstances during conversation.

If we consider the definition of language and speech in a superficial form, then we can characterize language as a regulated structure of individual signs, then according to speech lies in the use of language by people as an action manifested in verbal or writing Based on this, we can conclude that language and speech are coordinated with each other and they cannot be used separately, since it is impossible to use something that does not exist.

One of the main concepts of linguistics is “language and speech” (Langue-parole), these concepts were introduced by F. de Saussure at the beginning of the last century and today we cannot imagine our life without the variety of their word forms. In accordance with them, language is a system of elementary and complex signs - phonemes, morphemes, words, phrases, statements and combinations of statements; it, as such a system, exists in human mind in several forms that we enjoy while pronouncing our favorite phrases.

The science that studies natural human language, called linguistics. There are two concepts in it, language and speech, which, although they are closely related to each other, you need to learn to distinguish them and this is not at all difficult.
If language is a means and instrument of communication, a certain system of signs, rules and means of speaking, which unites representatives of a certain community and is a constant phenomenon for a certain time, then speech is a variable concept and depends on the state of the one who pronounces the words, on his level of education , education, etc. This is a process of communication and speech has the personality traits of the person who is its carrier. One could even say that these are components of the same, rather complex, phenomenon. They can even be compared to pen and text, which have different meanings.

Language concept

The American logician and philosopher Charles Peirce defined a sign as something, by recognizing which we accumulate a system of knowledge, and this has been happening for many centuries in different social environments. The science of signs - semionics approaches their division very seriously and distinguishes among them total number iconic signs, indices, and symbols.
The greatest contribution to the study of language as a system of signs was made by the Swiss linguist of the early last century, Ferdinand de Saussure. The provisions of his theory are still studied by linguists around the world. He compared language with other sign systems, such as military signals navy, the alphabet for deaf-mute people or forms of courtesy, it is simply considered an order of magnitude higher.

Scientists took different approaches to the study and defined the concept of a sign in different ways, for example, the German logician Gottlob Frege introduced the distinction between the denotation of an expression and its deep meaning, agreeing with the definition given to the sign by Saussure.
In addition to these two scientists, the problems of language were also dealt with by: semiotician Charles Morris, who was a follower of Charles Peirce, English linguists Charles Ogden, Ivor Richards, who in 1923, in the book “The Meaning of Meaning,” presented a visually sign relation in the form of a so-called semantic triangle or triangle of reference.

The functions of a language are determined by their meaning for public life. The tongue performs following functions:

Communication function
Thought-forming function
Cognitive (epistemological) function

Speech has also been and is being given a lot of attention by domestic and foreign linguists. The functions of speech were studied by the Russian and American linguist of the early last century, Roman Osipovich Yakobson. He also defined the concept of speech.
He identified the following functions of speech:

Communicative (referential) function
Expressive (emotive) function
Poetic (aesthetic) function
Appellative (directive) function
Phatic function (contact making)
Metalinguistic function

Important means of transmission emotional state a person is - intonation and gestures, which in many ways add variety to our speech.

In his teaching practice, the basic principles of linguistics were used by K.S. Stanislavsky, who, while training actors, used all kinds of speech techniques And various exercises using intonation, voice, etc.. For example, the great Russian director used an exercise in which his students had to convey 40 messages in different shapes, but uttering only one phrase, for example, “Fire, gentlemen, fire!” After pronouncing this phrase, listeners had to determine what situation was being discussed. The same phrase, as in that anecdote, when a child asked his father for money in different forms, “Dad, money came out,” can be pronounced differently with sadness, a question, an exclamation, etc.

Sometimes a person can pronounce the form of a word, and he pronounces it several times. For example, in the novel “War and Peace,” Dolokhov happily uttered the word “on the spot” about a killed soldier, not because he had sadistic tendencies, but because he really liked this word, its shape and sound.

Statements, remarks, arguments - we cannot imagine our life without them today. It will seem boring and monotonous. It is speech and signs that bring bright colors into our lives.

Plan

Introduction

1. What is language and speech

2. Differences between language and speech

Conclusion

Bibliography

Introduction

Eat eternal questions linguistics, which science has been trying to answer from antiquity to the present day. What is language? How is it built? How does it work? How does it change and develop? What is speech? Despite the centuries-long development of linguistics, they cannot be considered solved. Today these questions seem even more unexplored than they seemed, for example, at the beginning of the 20th century. The development of linguistics has never been smooth and gradual. Revolutions were followed by periods of calm, when scientists only accumulated material and improved scientific methods. Priority problems also changed. Often, issues that were considered “unscientific” or “non-linguistic” in one era became the focus of attention in another. But none of the significant problems disappears from science forever, even if it falls out of sight of linguists for a long time. Turning to questions left for a while, linguistics studies them in a new, more high level. So the development of linguistics, like other sciences, is a forward movement, as if in a spiral.

The purpose of the abstract is to analyze the concepts of “language” and “speech”.

1. What is language and speech

Ferdinand de Saussure was one of the first who set out to create general theory language. However, first of all, it was necessary to answer the question: what is language? All phenomena associated with the processes of speaking and listening, Saussure designated general term speech activity(langage) . Speech activity is extremely diverse and comes into contact with a number of areas: physics, physiology, psychology. IN general population speech processes Saussure identifies two polar aspects: language (langue) and speech (parole). “Language,” noted Saussure, “is only a certain part, it is true, the most important part, speech activity" According to Saussure, language is just the sum of necessary conventions, accepted by society. But it is precisely this that makes speech activity possible. Language is grammatical system and a dictionary, i.e., an inventory of linguistic means, without mastering which verbal communication is impossible.

Language as a lexical and grammatical system potentially exists in the minds of individuals belonging to the same linguistic community. As a social product and a means of mutual understanding among people, language does not depend on the individual who speaks it. On the contrary, an individual must make considerable efforts to master the language system perfectly.

Speech means the act by which an individual uses language to express his thoughts, it is the use of language for the purpose of communication; it consists of individual acts of speaking and listening carried out in a cycle of communication. Language and speech “are closely related and mutually presuppose each other: language is necessary for speech to be understandable and to produce its effect; speech, in turn, is necessary in order for language to be established: historically, the fact of speech always precedes language” (Saussure). Consequently, the development of language is revealed in speech, live speech is a form of existence and development of language. But recognizing all this, Saussure declares: “all this does not interfere with the fact that these are two completely different things,” contrasting language and speech.

Language is the main feature that distinguishes man from the world of living nature and gives the spiritual principle a physical appearance. Language is a kind of analogue of a person. Like man, he combines matter and spirit. It is perceived simultaneously by the mind and the senses. This dualism of language, repeating the dual nature of man, is reflected in almost all definitions. Thus, according to Humboldt, “language is a continuous activity of the spirit, striving to transform sound into the expression of thought.” G. Steinthal defined language as “the expression of conscious internal, mental and spiritual movements, states and relationships through articulated sounds.” A.A. Potebnya believed that “the concept of language is exhausted by a certain combination of articulate sound and thought.” Throughout the 20th century, various basic metaphors of language appear in Russian-language linguistic discourse, and, as N.D. noted. Arutyunova, shift scientific paradigm is always accompanied by a change in the basic metaphor introducing “ new area similes, a new analogy": language is an object, language is a mechanism, language is a product, language is a game, language is a business, language is a field, language is a closed whole, language is a constructive unity, language is a picture, language is a process, language is living system, language is a dynamic structure, language is a fluid conglomerate, language is a fabric, language is creative activity, language is an open environment, language is a continuous flow.

Spontaneous ideas about language and speech activity, which have developed in the everyday consciousness of a person, are recorded in the meaning of such metalinguistic terms as language, speech, word, meaning, speak, say, communicate, etc. It seems optimal for the completeness of the semantic description of the linguocultural concept “language” “, there will be a selection of three components in its composition: conceptual, reflecting its attribute and definitional structure, figurative, fixing cognitive metaphors that support the concept in the linguistic consciousness, and significance, determined by the place that the name of the concept occupies in the lexical-grammatical system of a particular language.

2. Differences between language and speech

According to V.A. Zvegintsev, we can distinguish the following series of the most significant contrasting characteristics of language and speech:

1) speech is characterized as individual phenomenon, and language – as supra-individual, general;

2) there is speech mental phenomenon, and language is social;

3) speech is mobile, dynamic, and language tends to stability, staticity;

4) speech is historical, and language is “ahistorical”, achronic;

5) relationships between elements of speech are based on causal dependence, and relationships between elements of language are based on functional dependence;

6) speech, due to its aggravated connections with mental, historical, social and other factors, cannot be described in a strictly formal manner, while language allows the application of formal rules;

7) language is subject to linguistic laws, it is linguistically “regular”, and speech is linguistically irregular and sporadic;

8) speech is always characterized by materiality, while language tends to appear in the form of an abstract system.

At the same time, V.A. Zvegintsev emphasizes that the listed contrasting characteristics “embody only multidirectional inertias, which do not receive complete predominance in the indicated bilateral dependencies.” Also, a significant difference between language and speech can be considered that speech, in contrast to language, is always purposeful and situationally tied. Language as a sign system has two coordinates: syntagmatics and semantics. When defining speech as sign system To specified coordinates pragmatics is also added.

Language and speech differ on the basis of a certain institution and process. There is language as a means of communication, and there is speech as the process of communication through language. Speech has the property of being loud or quiet, fast or slow, long or short; This characteristic does not apply to language. Speech can be monologue, if the interlocutor only listens, and dialogic, if the interlocutor also takes part in the communication. Language can be neither monological nor dialogic. In order for speech to have its own units, different from the units of language, they must be distinguished according to the properties that the process has and that the instrument with which it is accomplished does not have.

In contrast to language as a tool of communication, in speech we can highlight moments that characterize the process of communication. In speech, the frequency of repetition of certain language elements differs in certain conditions of the communication process.

Mathematical statistics is the study of frequencies in the form of calculus various kinds average values. Frequency does not characterize a unit of structure, but its repetition in the process of communication. Strength characterizes not the phoneme as a unit of language, but the pronunciation of sound in the process of communication. You can use units to measure sound intensity. Interference does not characterize units of language, but the implementation of the communication process. You can use units to measure the degree of interference. Such units cannot be not only words or their forms, phrases or sentences, but even paragraphs.

Language differs from speech, as a social phenomenon differs from an individual one. Language is a kind of code imposed by society on all its members as a mandatory norm. How social product, it is assimilated by each individual in finished form. Speech is always individual. Each act of speech has its own author - the speaker who improvises speech at his own discretion. “Language is not a function of the speaking subject, it is passively registered by the individual,” who “by itself can neither create nor change it.” On the contrary, “speech is an individual act of will and understanding.” Language is stable and durable and differs from speech, which is unstable and disposable. Language, according to Saussure, differs from speech as “the essential from the incidental and more or less accidental.”

The differences between language and speech noted by Saussure do exist, but they do not provide grounds for absolutizing them, for these two aspects of speech activity in each individual case represent an inextricable dialectical unity: neither of them can be imagined independently of the other, both of them are mutually conditioned, for language- this is general, but speech- private, special. F. de Saussure in many ways only clarified the object that linguists were primarily concerned with. But previously, linguists did not separate language problems from other issues. Now the range of problems that linguistics should deal with first of all has been outlined. F. de Saussure distinguished “ internal linguistics”, dealing with language, and “ external linguistics”, studying “what is alien to his body, his system.” External linguistics includes, in particular, problems of the geographical distribution of languages, all problems connecting languages with history, culture, politics, as well as acoustics, physiology and psychology of speech. The scientist, of course, did not deny the importance of studying external linguistic issues, but for him they stood outside the main problems of linguistics. Ferdinand de Saussure narrowed the problems of the science of language, but this helped for the first time to clarify and clearly define the priorities linguistic tasks. He concludes his "Course" the following conclusion: “From the excursions we have made into areas adjacent to our science, the following principle follows purely negative property, but all the more interesting because it coincides with the main idea of this course: The only and true object of linguistics is language, considered in itself and for itself.” After de Saussure, linguists for half a century focused on the study of language, primarily sound structure and morphology, in a new, Saussurean sense. And they achieved a lot. If earlier linguistics was exact science only in a very narrow area - in the reconstruction of proto-languages, then in the 20th century the accuracy of many linguistic methods, a developed methodology for language analysis appeared.

A language is a specific code, a system of signs and rules for their use. This system includes units different levels: phonetic (sounds, intonation), morphological (parts of a word: root, suffix, etc.), lexical (words and their meanings) and syntactic (sentences). Described this system in grammars and dictionaries.

Speech is understood as the activity of people in using the language code, using the sign system; speech is language in action. In speech, language units enter into different relationships, forming countless combinations. Speech always unfolds in time, it reflects the characteristics of the speaker, and depends on the context and situation of communication.

The product of speech activity is specific texts created by speakers orally or in writing. If a language exists regardless of who speaks it (in Latin or Sanskrit, for example, no one speaks for a long time), then speech is always tied to the speaker. Speech only individual person may be correct or incorrect, damaged or improved. Language is an objective given, it is beyond our efforts to destroy or mutilate it; on the contrary, we choose our own style of behavior in language. For successful communication existence is not enough developed language. An important role is played by the quality of its use or the quality of speech of each speaker, the level of communicative language competence of the interlocutors.

Communicative language competence is understood as a set of linguistic (knowledge language system), sociolinguistic (proficiency social norms: speech etiquette, norms of communication between representatives different ages, floors and social groups) and pragmatic (skills in using linguistic means in certain functional purposes, recognition different types texts, ability to choose language means depending on the characteristics of the communication situation, etc.) knowledge and skills that allow one or another activity to be carried out using speech means.

The main object of linguistics is natural human language, in contrast to artificial language or animal language.

The two must be distinguished closely related concepts- language and speech.

Language- a tool, a means of communication. This is a system of signs, means and rules of speaking, common to all members of a given society. This phenomenon is constant for of this period time.

Speech- manifestation and functioning of language, the process of communication itself; it is unique for every native speaker. This phenomenon varies depending on the person speaking.

Language and speech are two sides of the same phenomenon. Language is inherent to any person, and speech is inherent to a specific person.

Speech and language can be compared to pen and text. Language is a pen, and speech is text written with this pen.

American philosopher and logician Charles Peirce (1839-1914), founder of pragmatism as philosophical movement and semiotics as a science, defined a sign as something, knowing which, we learn something more. Every thought is a sign and every sign is a thought.

Semiotics(from gr. uzmeipn- sign, sign) - the science of signs. The most significant division of signs is the division into iconic signs, indices and symbols.

1. Iconic sign (icon from gr. eykshchn image) is a relation of resemblance or resemblance between a sign and its object. The iconic sign is built on association by similarity. These are metaphors, images (paintings, photos, sculptures) and diagrams (drawings, diagrams).
2. Index(from lat. index- informer, forefinger, title) is a sign that relates to the designated object due to the fact that the object actually affects it. However, there is no significant similarity with the subject. The index is based on association by contiguity. Examples: bullet hole in glass, alphabetic symbols in algebra.
3. Symbol(from gr. Uhmvplpn - symbol, signal) is the only genuine sign, since it does not depend on similarity or connection. Its connection with the object is conditional, since it exists thanks to agreement. Most words in a language are symbols.

The German logician Gottlob Frege (1848-1925) proposed his understanding of the relationship of a sign to the object it denotes. He introduced the distinction between denotation ( Bedeutung) expression and its meaning ( Sinn). Denotation (referent)- this is the object or phenomenon itself to which the sign refers.

Venus - morning star.

In both expressions the same denotation is the planet Venus, but different meaning, since Venus is represented in language in different ways.

Ferdinand de Saussure (1957-1913), the great Swiss linguist who had a huge influence on 20th-century linguistics, proposed his landmark theory of language. Below are the main provisions of this teaching. language text semiotics sign

Language is a system of signs expressing concepts.

Language can be compared with other systems of signs, such as the alphabet for the deaf and dumb, military signals, forms of courtesy, symbolic rites, male plumage, smells, etc. Language is only the most important of these systems.

Semiology- a science that studies systems of signs in the life of society.

Linguistics- part of this general science.

Semiotics- a synonymous term for Saussure's word semiology, more commonly used in modern linguistics.

American semiotician Charles Morris (1901-1979), a follower of Charles Peirce, distinguished three sections of semiotics:

· Semantics(from gr. Uzmb- sign) - the relationship between a sign and the object designated by it.
· Syntactics(from gr. uhnfboyt- structure, connection) - relationships between signs.
· Pragmatics(from gr. rsbgmb- matter, action) - the relationship between signs and those who use these signs (subjects and addressees of speech).

The main object of linguistics is natural human language, as opposed to artificial or animal language.

It is necessary to distinguish between two closely related concepts - language and speech.

Language- a tool, a means of communication. This is a system of signs, means and rules of speaking, common to all members of a given society. This phenomenon is constant for a given period of time.

Speech- manifestation and functioning of language, the process of communication itself; it is unique for every native speaker. This phenomenon varies depending on the person speaking.

Language and speech are two sides of the same phenomenon. Language is inherent to any person, and speech is inherent to a specific person.

Speech and language can be compared to pen and text. Language is a pen, and speech is text written with this pen.

Language as a system of signs

American philosopher and logician Charles Peirce (1839-1914), the founder of pragmatism as a philosophical movement and semiotics as a science, defined a sign as something, knowing which, we learn something more. Every thought is a sign and every sign is a thought.

Semiotics(from gr. σημειον - sign, sign) - the science of signs. The most significant division of signs is the division into iconic signs, indices and symbols.

Iconic sign (icon from gr. εικων image) is a relation of resemblance or resemblance between a sign and its object. The iconic sign is built on association by similarity. These are metaphors, images (paintings, photos, sculptures) and diagrams (drawings, diagrams).
Index(from lat. index- informer, index finger, heading) is a sign that relates to the designated object due to the fact that the object actually affects it. However, there is no significant similarity with the subject. The index is based on association by contiguity. Examples: bullet hole in glass, alphabetic symbols in algebra.
Symbol(from gr. Συμβολον - conventional sign, signal) is the only genuine sign, since it does not depend on similarity or connection. Its connection with the object is conditional, since it exists thanks to agreement. Most words in a language are symbols.

The German logician Gottlob Frege (1848-1925) proposed his understanding of the relationship of a sign to the object it denotes. He introduced the distinction between denotation ( Bedeutung) expression and its meaning ( Sinn). Denotation (referent)- this is the object or phenomenon itself to which the sign refers.

Venus is the morning star.

Both expressions have the same denotation - the planet Venus, but a different meaning, since Venus is represented in language in different ways.

Language is a system of signs expressing concepts.

Semiology- a science that studies systems of signs in the life of society.

Linguistics- part of this general science.

Semiotics- a synonymous term for Saussure's word semiology, more commonly used in modern linguistics.

American semiotician Charles Morris (1901-1979), a follower of Charles Peirce, distinguished three sections of semiotics:

Semantics(from gr. σημα - sign) - the relationship between a sign and the object designated by it.
Syntactics(from gr. συνταξις - structure, connection) - relationships between signs.
Pragmatics(from gr. πραγμα - matter, action) - the relationship between signs and those who use these signs (subjects and addressees of speech).

Some sign systems

Language sign

According to F. de Saussure language sign- this is not a connection between a thing and its name, but a combination of a concept and an acoustic image.

Concept- this is a generalized, schematic image of an object in our minds, the most important and character traits of a given object, as if a definition of an object. For example, a chair is a seat with a support (legs or leg) and a backrest.

Acoustic image- this is the sound ideal equivalent of sound in our consciousness. When we say a word to ourselves without moving our lips or tongue, we reproduce an acoustic image of the actual sound.

Both of these sides of the sign have a psychic essence, i.e. ideal and exist only in our minds.

The acoustic image in relation to the concept is to some extent material, since it is associated with real sound.

The argument in favor of the ideality of the sign is that we can talk to ourselves without moving our lips or tongue, and pronounce sounds to ourselves.

Thus, a sign is a two-sided mental entity consisting of a signified and a signifier.

Concept- signified (fr. signify)

Acoustic image- meaning (French) signifiant).

Sign theory suggests 4 components of the signification process.

The following example involves the following components:

The very real, material, real tree that we want to designate with a sign;
Ideal (mental) concept as part of a sign (designated);
Ideal (mental) acoustic image as part of a sign (signifying);
Material embodiment of the ideal sign: the sounds of the spoken word tree, letters representing the word tree.

Trees can be different, no two birches are exactly alike, say the word tree We also all write differently (in different tones, with different timbres, loudly, in a whisper, etc.), we also write differently (with pen, pencil, chalk, different handwriting, on a typewriter, on a computer), but the sign is two-sided in our minds everyone has the same, because it is ideal.

English linguists Charles Ogden (1889-1957), Ivor Richards(1893-1979) in 1923 in the book “The Meaning of Meaning” ( The Meaning of Meaning) visually presented the sign relation in the form of a semantic triangle (triangle of reference):

Sign (Symbol), i.e. a word in natural language;
Referent (Referent), i.e. the subject to which the sign refers;
Attitude, or reference ( Reference), i.e. thought as an intermediary between symbol and referent, between word and object.

The base of the triangle is represented by a broken line. This means that the connection between a word and an object is not obligatory, conditional, and it is impossible without a connection with thought and concept.

However, the sign relation can also be expressed in the form of a square, if we take into account that the second member of the triangle - thought - can consist of a concept and a connotation. The concept is common to all carriers of this language, and connotation, or connotation (lat. connotatio- "connotation") - associative meaning, individual for each person.

For example, a bricklayer may associate “brick” with his work, while an injured passerby may associate it with the trauma he suffered.

Language functions

The main functions of the language are as follows:

Communication function

Language as a means of communication between people. This is the main function of language.

Thought-forming function

Language is used as a means of thinking in the form of words.

Cognitive (epistemological) function

Language as a means of understanding the world, accumulating and transmitting knowledge to other people and subsequent generations (in the form of oral traditions, written sources, audio recordings).

Functions of speech

Along with the functions of language, there are also functions of speech. Roman Osipovich Yakobson (1896-1982), a Russian and American linguist (Mayakovsky wrote about him in a poem about Netta, a steamship and a man: ... “he chatted all day long about Romka Yakobson and sweated funny, learning poetry ...”) proposed a diagram that describes the factors (components) of the act of communication, which correspond to individual speech functions language.

An example of an act of communication is the beginning of the novel in verse “Eugene Onegin”, if the lecturer recites it to students: “My uncle is the most fair rules when I seriously fell ill..."

Sender: Pushkin, Onegin, lecturer.

Recipient: reader, students.

Message: verse meter (iambic tetrameter).

Context: message about illness.

Code: Russian language.

Compliant context, which is understood as the subject of the message, otherwise called referent. This is a function of transmitting a message, focusing on the context of the message. In the process of communication, it is the most important, as it conveys information about the subject. In the text, this function is emphasized by, for example, phrases: “as stated above,” “attention, the microphone is on,” and various stage directions in the plays.

Compliant to the sender, i.e. reflects the attitude of the speaker to what is being expressed, direct expression sender's feelings. Using expressive function It is not the message itself that is important, but the attitude towards it.

The emotive layer of the language is represented by interjections, which are equivalents of sentences (“ay”, “oh”, “alas”). Essential Tools conveying emotions - intonation and gestures.

K.S. Stanislavski, the great Russian director, when training actors, asked them to convey up to 40 messages, saying only one phrase, for example, “Tonight”, “Fire”, etc. so that the audience can guess what situation is being discussed.

F.M. Dostoevsky in “The Diary of a Writer” describes a case when five artisans had a meaningful conversation, saying in turn: different intonation the same obscene phrase.

This function is noticeable in an anecdote where a father complains about his son’s impoliteness in a letter: “Like, he wrote: “Dad, money came out.” No, “Dad, money came out” ( with a pleading intonation)».

The addressee and the sender may not always coincide. For example, at Indian tribe Chinooks, the words of the leader are repeated in front of the people by a specially designated servant.

Poetic (aesthetic) function

Compliant message, i.e. the main role is played by the focus on the message as such, outside of its content. The main thing is the form of the message. Attention is directed to the message for its own sake. As the name suggests, this function is used primarily in poetry, where big role play stops, rhymes, alliteration, etc., playing important role in his perception, and the information is often secondary, and often the content of the poem is incomprehensible to us, but we like it in form.

Similar poems were written by K. Balmont, V. Khlebnikov, O. Mandelstam, B. Pasternak and many other poets.

The aesthetic function is often used in artistic prose, as well as in colloquial speech. Speech in such cases is perceived as an aesthetic object. Words are taken as something either beautiful or ugly.

Dolokhov in the novel “War and Peace” with obvious pleasure pronounces the word “on the spot” about the murdered man, not because he is a sadist, but simply because he likes the form of the word.

In Chekhov’s story “Men,” Olga read the Gospel and did not understand much, but the holy words touched her to tears, and she pronounced the words “even” and “dondezhe” with a sweet sinking heart.

The following dialogue is a typical case aesthetic function during conversation:

“Why do you always say Joan and Marjorie instead of Marjorie and Joan? Do you love Joan more? “Not at all, it just sounds better this way.”

Compliant recipient message, which the speaker focuses on, trying to influence the addressee in one way or another, to cause his reaction. This is often expressed grammatically imperative mood verbs (Speak!), as well as the vocative case in archaic texts (man, son), for example in a prayer in Church Slavonic: “ Father ours, who art in heaven...our daily bread give me a shout us today."

Compliant contact, i.e. The purpose of the message with this function is to establish, continue or interrupt communication, to check whether the communication channel is working. “Hello, can you hear me? -»

The language has for these purposes a large number of cliche phrases that are used in congratulations, at the beginning and end of a letter, and they, as a rule, do not carry literal information.

"Dear Sir! I believe that you are a scoundrel and a scoundrel, and from now on I am breaking with you completely and completely.
Sincerely, Your Mr. Pumpkin."

Often, when we don’t know what to talk about with a person, but it’s simply indecent to remain silent, we talk about the weather, about some events, although they may not interest us.

A fellow villager with a fishing rod walks past us towards the river. We will definitely tell him, although it is obvious: “What, go fishing?”

All of these phrases are easily predictable, but their standard nature and ease of use allow you to establish contact and overcome disunity.

American writer Dorothy Parker, during a boring reception, when casual acquaintances asked her how she was doing, answered them in a sweet tone small talk: “I just killed my husband, and everything is fine with me.” People walked away, satisfied with the conversation, not paying attention to the meaning of what was said.

In one of her stories there is a wonderful example of a phatic conversation between two lovers who practically do not need words.

"- OK! - said the young man. - OK! - she said.
- OK. So, so,” he said.
“So then,” she said, “why not?”
“I think, therefore, so,” he said, “that’s it!” So, it turns out.
Okay, she said. Okay,” he said, “okay.”

The Chinook Indians are the least talkative in this regard. An Indian could come to a friend's house, sit there and leave without a word. The very fact that he bothered to come was a sufficient element of communication. It is not necessary to talk if there is no need to communicate anything. There is a lack of phatic communication.

Children's speech under three years of age is usually phatic; children often cannot understand what is being said to them, do not know what to say, but try to babble in order to maintain communication. Children learn this function first. The desire to start and maintain communication is characteristic of talking birds. The phatic function in language is the only function common to animals and humans.