Basic functions of the language

Language is not just a sign languagea system that symbolically denotes objects and phenomena. Language is also an instrument of human activity, in which it performs a number of functions. The main functions of the language include communicative, cognitive, nominative and accumulative. There are also secondary functions (for example, the aesthetic function of the language). In this article, we will look at the main functions that the language does and their essence.

Main functions of the language: communicative function

This function is due to the fact that the language ismeans of interpersonal communication, which allows one person to express their thoughts and pass them on to another, and the other, in turn, understand them and react. In fact, the language arose precisely for communication, that is, communication, information exchange. Communicative function is due to the familiarity of the language.

Within the communicative function, one can single outemotional function, explaining it by the fact that with the help of the language it is possible to convey feelings, desires, states. Animals that can not pronounce words communicate exactly to convey emotions. The emotional function of our speech, naturally, is more complex than in animals.

Thus, the communicative function implies the realization of communication through communication, communication, influence and expression of emotions, states and feelings.

Main functions of the language: cognitive function

Cognitive function is related to the fact that inlanguage signs there is a human consciousness. Language - an instrument of consciousness, reflecting the result of human cognitive activity. The disputes of linguists about what comes before, the language or thinking, it seems, never ceased. The only opinion that is unmistakable: the language is inextricably linked with thinking, because we not only express our thoughts in words, but the thoughts themselves are represented in the form of words; the man thinks in words.

Cognitive function allows you to capture the results of thinking and use them in communication. This function helps to know the world and verbalize it.

Main functions of the language: nominative function

It is known that people think in categories, and in the process of cognition, he calls new concepts and phenomena. This function of language is called nominative.

It is closely related to cognitive, since allthe known must have its own name. It is also related to the ability of a linguistic sign to designate things. It is this ability that helped a person create a symbolic world. Nevertheless, in our world there are a lot of things that do not have names. How, I wonder, name the pin on the buckle for the belt? In fact, despite the absence of a name, the nominative function is realized through a description.

The main functions of the language: the accumulative function

The accumulative function is associated with the collection andstorage of information. It's no secret that language lives much longer than people, people. A vivid example is the dead languages ​​that survived their carriers. Whatever the language, alive or dead, it preserves the memory of entire generations, the centuries-old history of mankind. Even in case of loss of oral tradition, one can study ancient writings and draw definite conclusions about the past of the nation.

Recently, the process of accumulating information is accelerating, and the amount of information that a person produces today is increased by 30% per year.

Many linguists distinguish other functions of the language. Among them, for example, contact-fixing, aesthetic and others. If you look closely at additional functions, you can conclude that they are all related in some way to the above. The study of the secondary functions of the language does not stop and gives very interesting data for further scientific research. It can be said with certainty that the language and its functions will always be relevant to a person.