1. Communicative Function  Communicative function is the language we use to express particular ideas or to achieve particular results in particular situations.  We are looking at the purpose of an utterance rather than analyzing its component pieces.  The sentences or examples of language used are known as “exponents” of a function. E.g., “Have you got the time on you ?” is an exponent of the function of “asking for information”

2.  Some exponents are fixed formulae that allow for little or no alteration: You cannot change any words without losing the meaning. E.g., “Have you got the time on you?”  Other exponents have more generative possibilities: “Could you tell me the way to the station?” is usable in a variety of situations by substituting different vocabulary for station.

3. Function : “Expressing regret” Exponents : 1. I wish I’d done it 2. If only I hadn’t gone there 3. Why didn’t I buy it when I had the chance ?

4. Consideration for appropriacy awareness Stress and intonation are very important. A change of stress and intonation can make an exponent change its function. A lot of work in the area of function is to do with common sense and common politeness – and most of all to do with an awareness of audience.

5. The Considerations are :  Who are you talking / writing to ? How well do you know them ?  How formal / informal is the relationship ?  Where are you ? What unwritten rules or codes of conduct apply ?

6. Ideas for Integrating Functional Work into a course :  Focusing on a functional area and studying a number of exponents;  Roleplays – considering what to say in particular relationships;  Listening – working out relationships between speakers;  Deciding how different situations make one sentence mean different things;  Building dialogues and picture story conversations;  Acting out play scripts;  Writing letters to different people;  Altering written conversations to change the relationship.