Form and Function Oct 17th 2014

Look at the following sentence and analyse it: Give me your phone number.

Meaning: _______________________________ Phonology: ______________________________ Concept-checking: ________________________ Possible contexts: ________________________ Form: __________________________________ Function: _______________________________

CELTA

André Alipio (aalipio@gtp.net.br)

Give me your phone number.

Meaning: It is a direct form of communication used when the speaker wants to suggest, advice, or request something (generally not politely, or informally).

Less regularly it means giving an order.

CELTA

André Alipio (aalipio@gtp.net.br)

Give me your phone number.

Phonology: 1. Sentence stress: Give me your phone number.

2. Transcription: / ɡɪv miː jə fəʊn ˈnʌmbə / 3. Connected Speech: ɡɪv miː (the /v/ sound may disappear)

fəʊn ˈnʌmbə

(Both /n/ sounds are pronounced as one)

CELTA

André Alipio (aalipio@gtp.net.br)

Give me your phone number.

Concept checking questions: Am I asking someone to request something for me? (No) Am I offering something? (No) Am I requesting something? (Yes)

Can it be an order? (Yes, maybe) Do I expect a prompt answer/reply? (Yes)

CELTA

André Alipio (aalipio@gtp.net.br)

Give me your phone number.

Possible contexts: Doctor to patient, when some information will be share later.

Officer to probable lawbreaker, who denies his number has been used for a crime.

New acquaintances, one offering help to the other.

CELTA

André Alipio (aalipio@gtp.net.br)

Form and Function

Give me your phone number.

FORM

FUNCTION

Imperative (‘you’ is implied):

Request (informal or

verb + object

not polite)

what language is

what language does

CELTA

André Alipio (aalipio@gtp.net.br)

CELTA 2014 Form & Function CELTA

André Alipio (aalipio@gtp.net.br)

1. apologising 2. inviting 3. expressing regret 4. getting attention 5. asking permission

6. requesting 7.greeting 8. disagreeing 9. offering 10. thanking 11. complaining

12. suggesting

CELTA

13. giving advice

André Alipio (aalipio@gtp.net.br)

A You really feel sorry about

1. apologising 2. inviting

3. expressing regret 4. getting attention

something you said to the

5. asking permission

person sitting next to you

7.greeting

earlier today. It’s time to make amends. What do you say?

6. requesting

8. disagreeing 9. offering 10. thanking

11. Complaining 12. suggesting

13. giving advice

CELTA

André Alipio (aalipio@gtp.net.br)

B

1. apologising 2. inviting

You’ve got to tickets for

3. expressing regret 4. getting attention

tonight’s concert and no one to take. Then, the person next

to you, someone you like, calls you on the phone. What do you say?

CELTA

5. asking permission 6. requesting 7.greeting

8. disagreeing 9. offering 10. thanking

11. Complaining 12. suggesting

13. giving advice André Alipio (aalipio@gtp.net.br)

A

1. apologising 2. inviting

You have just been let in on a

3. expressing regret 4. getting attention

secret (straight from the horse’s mouth), and are dying to tell

you best friend, but promised not to. You decide to negotiate with the secret bearer.

CELTA

5. asking permission 6. requesting 7.greeting

8. disagreeing 9. offering 10. thanking

11. Complaining 12. suggesting

13. giving advice André Alipio (aalipio@gtp.net.br)

B

1. apologising 2. inviting

The person sitting next to

3. expressing regret 4. getting attention

you is struggling with their assignment 3. As you have

done it already, you decide you can help this person.

What do you say?

CELTA

5. asking permission 6. requesting 7.greeting

8. disagreeing 9. offering 10. thanking

11. Complaining 12. suggesting

13. giving advice André Alipio (aalipio@gtp.net.br)

CONCLUSION One structure can have a lot of functions.

One function can be expressed by some structures.

CELTA

André Alipio (aalipio@gtp.net.br)

CELTA

André Alipio (aalipio@gtp.net.br)