Baron's Functions of Language Interaction

[Joshua Thompson]

Naomi Baron (1990) posted a reasonable and well thought out framework for
language functions in PIGEON-BIRDS AND RHYMING WORDS: THE ROLE OF PARENTS
IN LANGUAGE LEARNING, published by the Center for Applied Linguistics.
She started in Jakobson (1960), but devised her variation because: "Our
goal here is to understand the ways in which adult speech can affect the
language of children. Therefore, we need to focus on how language
functions in human interactive behavior" (Baron, 1990, p. 19).
She then proposes this list of five language functions:
pedagogy
control
affection
social exchange
information

This list works well in framing my observations of how parents adapt
language functions in speaking to their toddler (18 months old). Does
anyone else use these to describe contextual language use, language that
is used to do things? I cannot find anything else published about this
particular list of five language functions.

Joshua_Thompson at JUNO.com
University of Texas at Arlington


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