CHAPTER 1: LANGUAGE FUNCTIONS
The main function of language is to convey a particular
message between a sender and a receiver. But this can be expressed differently
by various domains of human activities. In this connection, a dichotomy is made
between intentional communication and unintentional one. According to Emmanuel
Ngara (1982: 10), the following description of language functions is
provided:
These are many different functions of language. They
range, from basic forms of communication, such as the cry of a hungry child,
and mare complex ones, such as political control, to self-expression: when a
speaker or writer expresses himself in `this form, these words and this order,'
simply to satisfy himself and to relieve himself of a burden of emotion within
him. But the main function of language is to communicate, to give and receive
messages.
As quoted above, Buchi Emecheta's The Slave Girl
provides characters with the opportunity to express their feelings, emotions
and ideas throughout the language use. To do so, phatic, emotive (expressive),
metalingual, and conative functions will be the main concern of this
chapter.
1. Phatic function
The phatic function can help interlocutors open the channel
for communication. It means to establish, prolong, or discontinue
communication as greeting, farewells, and «idle talk» (Duranti, 1997:
284-286). Speaking of the role of the phatic function, G. W. Tunner (1973:
209) quotes:
Similarly informality in language has its less extended
parallel in greetings, solicitous inquiries about health or comments about the
weather, designed mare to put a hearer at ease than to convey information. No
special grammatical form marks this `phatic' use of language either, especially
and words such as please and thank you, normally have phatic function.
In Buchi Emecheta's The Slave Girl, characters pull
out lexical items which express the phatic function. Sometimes they are used to
maintain conversation between addressers and addressees as illustrated in the
passage below:
«Well, there's nothing wrong in that. You do that for
Ma anyway, so what's so bad in doing the same for her son.» (Buchi
Emecheta, 1973:92)
In this passage, the lexical item expressing the phatic
function is «well». As far as pragmatics is concerned,
«well» here is used to fulfil a gap during the conversation.
Another example of phatic function is used in this quotation:
«And your little sister is part of this errand too? I
mean is she going to say something at this urgent meeting that guaranteed your
leaving Ibuza when everybody was still asleep?» (Buchi Emecheta,
1977: 40)
In the above quotation, the phrase that expresses the phatic
function is «I mean». This phrase is evidently used here to correct
or precise what has been said before. Moreover, phatic expressions can also be
found in the conversation between Nwayinuzo and Ojebeta because he has trouble
to answer her questions as stated in the following utterances:
«Hmmm»,» sighed Nwayinuzo, «it is sad.
This place is not the same without Ma Palagada. It is the end of the story.
What will have from tomorrow will be the beginning of another story.»
(Buchi Emecheta, 1977: 138)
It is relevant to assert from the above utterances that the
lexical «Hmmm» expresses the phatic function. Clearly speaking, this
lexical item helps the wheel of conversation to move smoothly. In addition to
this function, it is also a means to discharge the emotional burden which is
expressed two words by the adjective «bad». To back up what we have
said, the use of the verb «sighed» is full of meaning. Put otherwise,
the function of «Hmmm» her is to establish and maintain conversation.
Also, it implies thinking before an answer to questions asked by the sender.
The phatic expressions are also to attract the interlocutor's
attention on a topic. Thus, the passage below is illustrative:
«Look» whispered the smallest girl, loudly for
Okolie and Ojebeta to hear, «look, she is wearing bells like market
dances.» (Buchi Emecheta, 1977: 47)
From this passage, the word «Look» implies the
phatic function. As a matter of fact, it is used in imperative form to attract
the receiver's attention to see Ojebeta. Some phatic lexical items are used in
The Slave Girl to express agreement as shown in this dialogue.
[...]. «I can keep them under my head. I'll look
after them, [...]. My father bought them for me. I went to Idu to see the king,
and he brought them for me. Please let me keep them.»
«All right», Chiago compromised once more,
«keep them.» (Buchi Emecheta, 1977: 90)
In this dialogue, we can note that the phrase «All
right», expresses the phatic function. This phrase is used here to mean an
agreement.
All by all, Buchi Emecheta's use of phatic function is in the
straight line of its connotative meaning which is missing. It plays first the
role of a gap - filler and then the moves to sub-roles such as drawing
attention. This part cannot be said that it is specifically African because any
human language possesses this faculty. However, its use in The Slave
Girl is not exaggerated because African languages where verbal art is
highly praised require people to emphasize on other functions.
Apart from phatic function, emotive function also
characterizes the language functions in The Slave Girl.
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