A Compilation

of the

7 Functions of Language
by

Michael halliday

Presented to: Mrs. Otilia Gaudan

Presented by: Akemi Marie T. Cadiente

Michael Halliday
Michael Alexander Kirkwood Halliday (often M. A. K.
Halliday; born 13 April 1925) is a British-born Australian
linguist who developed the internationally influential systemic
functional linguistic model of language. His grammatical
descriptions go by the name of systemic functional grammar
(SFG).Halliday describes language as a semiotic system, "not in the sense of a
system of signs, but a systemic resource for meaning".

Biography
Halliday was born and raised in England. His fascination for language
was nurtured by his parents: his mother, Winifred, had studied French, and his
father, Wilfred, was a dialectologist, a dialect poet, and an English teacher with a
love for grammar and Elizabethan drama. In 1942, Halliday volunteered for the
national services' foreign language training course. He was selected to study
Chinese on the strength of his success in being able to differentiate tones. After
18 months' training, he spent a year in India working with the Chinese
Intelligence Unit doing counter-intelligence work. In 1945 he was brought back to
London to teach Chinese. He took a BA Honours degree in Modern Chinese
Language and Literature (Mandarin) through the University of London. This was
an external degree, with his studies conducted in China. He then lived for three
years in China, where he studied under Luo Changpei at Peking University and
under Wang Li at Lingnan University, before returning to take a PhD in Chinese
Linguistics at Cambridge under the supervision of Gustav Hallam and then J. R.
Firth. Having taught languages for 13 years, he changed his field of
specialisation

to

linguistics, and

developed systemic

functional

linguistics,

including systemic functional grammar, elaborating on the foundations laid by

his British teacher J. R. Firth and a group of European linguists of the early 20th
century, the Prague school. His seminal paper on this model was published in
1961.

7 Functions of Language

INSTRUMENTAL
language is used to communicate preferences, choices, wants, or needs
Classroom Experiences --Problem solving, gathering materials, role playing
Examples:
1. May I take your pen?
2. I want to have that bag too.
3. I want you to make an example of a brochure that highlights the
tourist spots of our province.
4. I prefer to write a story than to craft a poem.
5. I only want you to share your ideas but not your answers.

REGULATORY

This is where language is used to tell others what to do

Classroom Experiences - making rules in games & giving instructions

Examples:
1. Can you please group yourselves into four and create a short dialogue
with any topic that you want?
2. Just go away and leave me alone.
3. Get the guide on my table and follow the instructions well.
4. Call the other members so we can start our meeting on time
5. Prepare a menu of your favorite food and share it to your classmates.

INTERACTIONAL

Here language is used to make contact with others and form

relationships

Classroom Experiences -Structured play, dialogues and discussions

Examples:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

I love you mommy.

Lets move together.
I wish you a happy birthday.
I like you so much.
Lets play; Ill be the teacher and you will be my student.

PERSONAL
This is the use of language to express feelings, opinions, and individual
identity
Classroom Experiences - Making feelings public and interacting with others
Examples:
1. I believe I am a good mom to my kids.
2. Do not be afraid, just watch me.
3. Im sorry, but I think that is not the right answer.
4. Well for me, this sounds much better.
5. Here I am, standing in front of you to discuss my topic.

HEURISTIC

This is when language is used to gain knowledge about the

environment
Classroom Experiences - Question and answer, routines & inquiry
Examples:
1.
What is the tractor doing?'
2.
What is the process in making food for the plants?
3.
Is there any drug to cure AIDS?
4.
Why does the sun hides at night?
5.
Why is it raining so hard?

IMAGINATIVE
Here language is used to tell stories and jokes, and to create an
imaginary environment
Classroom Experiences - Stories and dramatizations, rhymes, poems, &
riddles

Examples:
1. Lets pretend that we are sleeping so mom will not ask us to do the
chores.
2. Let us assume that were in the palace.
3. I am Arielle and you will be Sebastian.
4. Write an essay on the topic "You are on the clouds".
5. What will be your platforms if you will be the president of our
country in the next 20 years?

REPRESENTATIONAL

The use of language to convey facts and information.

Classroom Experiences - Conveying messages & telling about the real world
Examples:
1. The president gave a speech last night.
2. Anything that occupies space is matter.
3. Ive got something to tell you.
4. Raymark Saluria graduated Cum Laude at Foundation University.
5. Dr. Mira Sinco was a former president of Foundation University.