Appellate Function: What is it, Characteristics and Meaning

Appellate Function

What is Appellate function:

The appellative or conative function is a type of language function used for the purpose of attracting the attention of a receiver in order to obtain a response from him or to induce a reaction.

It is part of one of the six functions of language identified by the linguist Roman Jackobson, together with the referential function, phatic function, emotional or expressive function, poetic function and metalinguistic function.

It receives the qualification of "appeal" inasmuch as the issuer appeals to a receiver, that is, he resorts to a person expecting from him the ability to react or respond to a certain situation or question.

For example, when a person asks another a question for which he expects an answer, we speak of an appeal function.

The appellative or conative function usually uses the following elements: the vocative, the imperative mood and the interrogative mood. The grammatical forms of the questions, the exhortations, the orders, the instructions; threats, petitions, etc., are appealing.

Some examples could be: “José, can you help me carry this suitcase?”; "Stop or I shoot!"; "Read the entire test before answering"; "I beg you to think better of it", "When did you arrive?", Etc.

Since its purpose is to provoke a response or reaction, the appeal function is used extensively by the mass media , especially in advertising and propaganda. For example, the slogans "Buy paracetamol" or "Vote for the New World party" are phrases with appellative function, which adhere to the imperative form.

    • Update date: March 11, 2021.

Recommended Contents


Article Title:
Appellate Function: What is it, Characteristics and Meaning
URL of post:
https://edukalife.blogspot.com/2021/03/appellate-function-what-is-it.html
Website Name:
Wiki Didactic
Editorial staff:
Team of collaborators
Date of publication:
Email Post