Halliday and Dore
Michael Halliday’s ‘Learning how to mean’ proposed seven main ‘functions’ that spurred a child to want to use language. FUNCTION WHAT IT IS WHAT IT’S USED FOR INSTRUMENTAL Language used to fulfil a speaker’s need Directly concerned with obtaining food, drink comfort etc . e.g. ‘I want’ REGULATORY Used to influence the behaviour of others Persuading / commanding / requesting other people do as you want ‘daddy push’ (child on swing) INTERACTIONAL Used to develop social relationships and ease interaction The Phatic dimension of talk eg ‘hello’ PERSONAL Used to express personal preferences / the speaker’s identity Sometimes referred to the ‘here I am!’ function – conveys attitudes, expresses feelings INFORMATIVE Used to communicate information Relaying or requesting information eg ‘I got a new doll HEURISTIC Used to learn and explore the environment Using language to learn – this may be questions or answers or the kind of runni...