SPEECH FUNCTIONS,

POLITENESS AND CROSS-

CULTURAL COMMUNICATION
Holmes Chapter 11
The Functions Of Speech

Expressive

Directive

Referential

Metalinguistic

Poetic

Phatic

 The Functions Of
Speech
Expressive
Express the speakers feelings.

Directive
Attempt to get someone to do
something.
Orders & commands are speech
acts which generally expressed in
imperative form.
 The Functions Of
Speech
Referential
Provide information.

Metalinguistic
Utterances comment on language
itself
 The Functions Of
Speech
Poetic
Focus on aesthetic features of language.

Phatic
Express solidarity and empathy with
others.
To convey an affective or social message.
Express information about social
relationship
Factors in choosing appropriate form
of directive (to show politeness):
Social distance between participants
People who are closer or intimates use more
imperative.

The relative status

Superior tend to use imperative to the
subordinates.

The formality of the context

The signs of status and formality in utterance.