English Language: Understanding the Communicative Act and Its Components

Lingua Inglese

Scienze e Tecnologie della Comunicazione Prof.ssa Ilaria Iori University of Ferrara 28 Feb 2025 ERRAR 13 % 9 Dipartimento di Studi Umanistici . EX L US . POREOverview

• COMMUNICATION
• COMMUNICATIVE ACTS (FUNCTIONS)
• MEDIATION
• LANGUAGE & DISCOURSE
• TEXTWhat is communication? me on my way to make bad decisions Communication is the process of transmitting information from one entity to another > interpersonal/mass communicationme on my way to make bad decisions

Understanding Communication

What is communication? Your friend Message You Medium

Communicative Acts

What is a communicative act? Roman Jakobson - The functions of language Understanding the purposes language serves in communication

Defining a Communicative Act

• Intentional action performed by individuals or groups to convey meaning or information to others.
• It involves the use of language, gestures, symbols, or other forms of expression to share thoughts, feelings, or ideas. > verbal vs. non- verbal
• Communicative acts can range from simple interactions, like greetings or questions, to complex exchanges, such as speeches, advertisements, or social media posts.
• They play a crucial role in interpersonal relationships, social interactions, and the exchange of information within societies. ARIAE UNIVER ERSITA . FERRAR 13 V 91 TUS EX LABORE FRUC Università degli Studi di Ferrara Dipartimento di Studi Umanistici

Key Components of a Communicative Act

What is a communicative act? Key components of a communicative act include:

• Sender: The person or entity initiating the communication. (who sends the message)
• Message: The content being communicated, which can be verbal, non-verbal, written, or visual.
• Medium: The channel through which the message is transmitted, such as spoken language, written text, images, or digital media.
• Receiver: The person or audience receiving the message.
• Context: The situational factors, cultural background, and environmental conditions that influence the meaning of the communication. FERRAR ARIAE UNIVER ERS Università 91 degli Studi di Ferrara Dipartimento di Studi Umanistici EX LABORE FRUC TUS

Example of a Communicative Act in a University Project

A student sends a message in the group chat for a university project "Hey everyone! I just finished the slides for our presentation. Can someone check them before we submit? Also, Marco, can you add the conclusion? Thanks!" Sender Message Medium Receiver Context

• Sender -> The student writing the message.
• Receiver -> The other group members (especially Marco, since they have a specific task).
• Message -> The request to check the slides and for Marco to add the conclusion.
• Medium -> WhatsApp (a digital messaging platform).
• Context -> The university project and its deadline.

Jakobson's Functions of Language

Jakobson's Functions

• Referential function (giving information)
• Emotive Function (expressing feelings)
• Conative Function (trying to influence someone)
• Phatic Function (keeping communication open)
• Metalinguistic Function (talking about language itself)
• Poetic Function (focusing on how the message sounds or looks)

Referential and Emotive Functions

Jakobson's functions

• Referential Function: This function focuses on the context or information being conveyed. > The meme conveys the idea of someone knowingly making bad decisions. The context is humor based on self-awareness and recklessness.
• Emotive Function: This function expresses the speaker's feelings or attitudes. > The sender might be sharing this to express their own mood or state of mind, possibly hinting at making impulsive choices or laughing at their own decisions.
• Conative Function: This function aims to influence the behavior of the receiver. While the meme is not a direct call to action, it might encourage the receiver to react, engage, or relate-perhaps by responding with another meme or commenting on it. le on my way to make bad decisions

Phatic, Metalinguistic, and Poetic Functions

Jakobson's functions

• Phatic Function: This function establishes or maintains communication. Sending this in a DM keeps the conversation going.
• Metalinguistic Function: This function clarifies or elaborates on the language used. > There is no explicit explanation of the language used in this meme, but the phrase "me on my way to make bad decisions" follows an internet meme structure, which both sender and receiver are expected to understand.
• Poetic Function: This function emphasizes the aesthetic qualities of language. > The humor comes from the contrast between Kermit's determined pose and the caption, making it an effective and relatable meme. le on my way to make bad decisions

Applying Jakobson's Functions to an Anti-Smoking Ad

Jakobson's functions Quick. &G S Slow. WANT HELP? PHONE THE SMOKELINE ON 0800 84 84 84.

Jakobson's functions Quick. Slow. WANT HELP? PHONE THE SMOKELINE ON 0800 84 84 84.

1. It informs us of the danger of smoking indirectly (referential function).
2. It communicates a point of view (expressive / emotive function): The ad indeed conveys an emotional stance or viewpoint by portraying the cigarette as a slow form of harm. This shows the advertiser's disapproval of smoking, aimed to provoke a reaction in the viewer.

Jakobson's functions Quick. Slow. WANT HELP? PHONE THE SMOKELINE ON 0800 84 84 84.

1. The call to action ("Want help? Phone the smokeline ... ") clearly aims to persuade the viewer to quit smoking, fulfilling the conative function of directing the viewer toward a specific behavior (conative function).
2. The ad establishes a connection with the viewer by grabbing their attention through a striking visual contrast (bullet vs. cigarette), opening the communication (phatic function).

Jakobson's functions Quick. Slow. WANT HELP? PHONE THE SMOKELINE ON 0800 84 84 84.

1. In this ad, the juxtaposition of the bullet and cigarette, paired with the simple text "Quick." and "Slow.", creates a powerful metaphor. The bullet symbolizes a fast, immediate death, while the cigarette represents a slower, but equally deadly, form of harm. The poetic function lies in the way this visual and verbal contrast conveys the message artistically and with impact.

Understanding Mediation

What is mediation? Tweet: No wonder this photo of #Rembrandt's #Nightwatch has gone viral. It's a perfect metaphor for our age RT FERRAR RARIAE UNIVERS 9 ERSITA EX LABORE FRUC TUS Università degli Studi di Ferrara Dipartimento di Studi Umanistici

Interpreting a Tweet

Understanding this tweet requires that we are able to figure out how the language in the message interacts with visual communication and with the kinds of expectations we bring to the message as a result of being members of our societies. (3) FERRAR RARIAE UNIVERS 9 ERSITA EX LABORE FRUC TUS Università degli Studi di Ferrara Dipartimento di Studi Umanistici

Characteristics of Mediated Messages

FERRAR RARIAE UNIVERS 9 ERSITA EX LABORE FRUC TUS Università degli Studi di Ferrara Dipartimento di Studi Umanistici This message is mediated:

• It happens through a specific medium (Twitter, now X)
• It is about media and how we believe media should or should not be used The medium can be problematic because it affects the message in many ways:
• How messages are constructed (length, word choice, register ... )
• Who creates messages and who has access to those messages The picture represents the use of 2 media:
• Twitter
• Rembrandt's painting

Media Ideologies

Media Ideologies Media ideologies: the sets of conventions and beliefs we associate with media use (Ilana Gershon 2012, qtd. 5)

• How different media should/should not be used
• Where and when different media should/should not be used
• What sort of people should/should not use them
• Whether they should be used with other people or not
• What sort of messages should/should not be communicated through them Our focus will be on what media do, rather than what they are FERRAR 13 1% 9 Dipartimento di Studi Umanistici Tus PORE

Media Convergence

Media convergence (Jenkins 2006) What looks like 1 medium, in fact, contains many media: think of a smartphone, which acts as:

• A TV
• A postal service provider
• A radio
• A music player
• A camera
• A web browser
• A phone
• FERRAR ARIAE UNIVER ERS Università degli Studi 9 di Ferrara TUS EX LABORE FRUC Dipartimento di Studi Umanistici

The Complexity of Media

The complexity of media

• Media is more than just TV, newspapers, or social media.
• Includes physical objects (paintings, buildings), electronic devices, and digital platforms.
• Media shapes how messages are formulated, transmitted, and received.
• Example: The constraints of Twitter (280 characters, hashtags, retweets) influence how language is used.

Mediation and Communication Capabilities

What's mediation? All interactions are mediated. Language is a form of mediation. (Lev Vygotsky, 1962) Media are «extensions> (McLuhan, 1964): they extend our communicative capabilities; they extend what we can do and who we can be. We also deal with social conventions regarding media use, these are valid within specific communities and cultures. They can be called media ideologies (Gershon 2012): e.g. breaking up with a romantic partner. ARIAE UNIVER FERRAR 91 EX LA LABORE FRUC ERS Università degli Studi di Ferrara TUS Dipartimento di Studi Umanistici

The Power of Mediation

The power of mediation

• Mediation:
• The process by which media facilitates communication.
• how meaning is shaped, transformed, or negotiated between speakers, cultures, and texts.
• Lev Vygotsky (1920s): Tools (both physical and mental) shape human actions.
• Marshall Mcluhan (1964): "Media as extensions of man"- technology expands our abilities.
• Example: A smartphone is not just a phone; it's an extension of our memory, communication, and social engagement.

Language and Mediation

Intertwined Nature of Media and Language

Language and mediation

• Media and language are deeply intertwined.
• Understanding a message requires more than just recognizing words or images-it involves cultural knowledge and context.
• Language isn't just words-it includes images, symbols, and body language.
• Understanding a message often depends on multiple forms of communication.
• Example: Emojis and GIFs change the meaning of text messages.

Linguistics and Critical Discourse Analysis

Language and mediation

• The scientific study of language is called linguistics
• The same descriptive approach is employed here: what does language do?
• One interesting approach to studying language is called critical discourse analysis: its purpose is "to reveal how language can be used to manipulate people and the power relations that are 'hidden' in linguistic structures" (p. 6)