For each type of text there is a language function that suits it perfectly! These functions reveal the sender's intentions when preparing the message: if the intention is to inform, the referential function is used; if the intention is to convince the recipient, the conative function; if the intention is to use the code to explain the language itself, the metalinguistic function; if the intention is to highlight the message, the poetic function; if the intention is to maintain contact with the channel, the phatic function is used. But what about when the intention is to conquer the reader through emotion? Which language function is the most suitable?
In this case, the emotive function of the language is the best choice. The emotive function is characterized by its message centered on the sender, that is, we find in texts that use this function the expressiveness of a discourse constructed in the first person. The author's main desire is to seek the adhesion of those who read it, convincing them through some peculiar grammatical marks. Note the main features of the emotive function:
♥ Verbs and pronouns in first person;
♥ Interjections (responsible for revealing the speaker's emotional state);
♥ Valuable adjectives;
♥ Punctuation marks such as ellipses and exclamation points.
The emotive function can be found in poems in which the lyric self uses first-person speech
Now look at an example of an emotive function in a poem by Fernando Pessoa, the main Portuguese poet:
“(...) And I, so often paltry, so often pig, so often vile,
I so often irresponsibly parasitic,
inexcusably dirty,
I, who so often have not had the patience to take a shower,
I, who so often have been ridiculous, absurd,
That I have publicly wrapped my feet in the label mats,
That I've been grotesque, petty, submissive and arrogant,
That I've been spoiled and silent,
That when I haven't been silent, I've been even more ridiculous;
I, who have been comical to hotel maids,
I, who have been feeling the blink of the eyes of the freight men,
I, who have been financially embarrassed, borrowed without paying,
I, who, when punch time came, have been crouching
Out of the Punch Chance;
I, who have suffered the anguish of ridiculous little things,
I find that I have no match for everything in this world (...)”.
(Fragment of the poem “Poema em linear”, by Álvaro de Campos, heteronym of Fernando Pessoa)
When reading Fernando Pessoa's poem, we can observe the main linguistic marks of a discourse that employs the emotive function of language. At the straight poem, O me lyric demonstrates a critical view of itself and at the same time interrogates the reader for answers. We can also notice the use of various pejorative adjectives, and all these resources are used to express your personal feelings and impressions.
The emotive function, like the poetic function, is found mainly in the literary texts and in various textual genres, such as music, testimonies, interviews, memoirist narratives, reviews subjective aspects of cinema, theater and other artistic manifestations in which the discourse is centered on the issuer. It is important to remember that in non-literary texts, such as argumentative dissertations, reports and news, the use of the emotive function it should be avoided, since in these types and genres the referential function with its objective and transparent use of language must predominate.
By Luana Castro
Graduated in Letters
