Elements and Functions of Communication

Posted on Sep 23, 2024 in Language

Communication

Communication is the process that transmits information.

Elements of Communication

  • Emitter (Sender): The real or virtual origin of the communication act; the one who performs the action.
  • Receiver: The recipient of the communicative act.
  • Message: The information transmitted from the sender to the receiver.
  • Channel: The medium through which the message is transmitted. It can be natural (e.g., air, touch) or artificial (e.g., telephone, mail).
  • Context: The situation in which the communication takes place.
  • Code: A systematized set of signs and rules that allows for communication (e.g., language).

Signs

  • Touch: A hug
  • Taste: Flavors
  • Olfactory: Smell
  • Visual: Images
  • Hearing: Sounds

Types of Signs

  • Natural Signs: Instinctive and universal (e.g., smoke indicates fire).
  • Artificial Signs: Conventional and arbitrary (e.g., traffic lights).
Examples of Artificial Signs
  • Icons: Pictures, images
  • Symbols: Flags

Functions of Language

  • Representative Function: Use of declarative sentences and verbs in the indicative mood (e.g., “I will not go to the picnic.”)
  • Expressive Function: Use of exclamatory or interrogative sentences, words with emotional charge (e.g., “How wonderful my girl is!”)
  • Appeative Function: Use of exclamations and verbs in the imperative mood (e.g., “Pedro, come here!”)
  • Phatic Function: Use of expressions to establish or maintain communication (e.g., “Okay? Right?”)
  • Metalinguistic Function: Use of language to refer to language itself (e.g., “‘Run’ is a verb.”)
  • Poetic Function: Use of language to create aesthetic effects (e.g., rhymes, comparisons).

Linguistic Sign

An artificial sign consisting of three elements:

  • Signifier: The physical form of the sign (e.g., spoken or written words).
  • Meaning: The concept or idea represented by the sign.
  • Referent: The actual object or phenomenon in the real world that the sign refers to.

Features of Linguistic Signs

  • Conventional: The relationship between the signifier and the signified is based on social agreement.
  • Arbitrary: There is no inherent connection between the signifier and the signified.
  • Mutable: The meaning of signs can change over time.
  • Linear: Language unfolds in a linear sequence.
  • Articulated: Language can be broken down into smaller units (e.g., words, morphemes, phonemes).

Narrative

A narrative tells a story, whether real or imaginary, with characters and events that unfold in a specific time and space. The events are narrated by a narrator, who can be a character in the story or an external observer.

Elements of Narrative

  • Narrator: The voice that tells the story.
  • Characters: The individuals who participate in the events of the story.
  • Time: The duration of the action in the story.
  • Space: The setting or location where the story takes place.

Description

A description uses language to create a vivid representation of objects, people, places, or experiences. Unlike narrative, description is static and focuses on presenting characteristics and qualities rather than actions.

Types of Description

  • Technical Description: Aims to provide an objective and accurate representation of the subject matter.
  • Literary Description: Aims to create a subjective and evocative impression on the reader.

Exposition

Exposition presents information or explains a particular topic to the audience. Its primary purpose is to inform.

Types of Exposition

  • Informative Exposition: Presents information in a clear and objective manner.
  • Specialized Exposition: Deals with complex or technical subjects, often using specialized vocabulary.

Argumentation

Argumentation presents reasons and evidence to support a particular claim or point of view. Its goal is to persuade the audience to accept the validity of the argument.

Elements of Argumentation

  • Claim: The main point or thesis being argued.
  • Evidence: Facts, statistics, examples, or expert opinions used to support the claim.
  • Reasoning: The logical connection between the evidence and the claim.

Levels of Language Organization

  • Phonetics: The study of speech sounds.
  • Phonology: The study of the sound system of a language.
  • Morphology: The study of the structure of words.
  • Semantics: The study of meaning in language.
  • Syntax: The study of the rules governing the arrangement of words in sentences.

Text and Textuality

A text is a cohesive and coherent unit of language that conveys a message or tells a story. Textuality refers to the properties that make a text coherent and cohesive.

Properties of Text

  • Cohesion: The use of linguistic devices to connect sentences and ideas within a text.
  • Coherence: The logical and meaningful connection between ideas in a text.