Roman Jakobson defined sixfunctions of language (orcommunication functions), according to which an effective act ofverbal communication can be described.^[2] Each of the functions has an associated factor. For this work, Jakobson was influenced byKarl Bühler'sorganon model, to which he added the poetic, phatic and metalingual functions.

• Thereferential function: corresponds to the factor ofcontext and describes a situation, object or mental state. The descriptive statements of the referential function can consist of both definite descriptions anddeictic words, e.g. "The autumn leaves have all fallen now." Similarly, the referential function is associated with an element whose true value is under questioning especially when the truth value is identical in both the real and assumptive universe.
• Thepoetic function: focuses on "the message for its own sake"^[3] (how the code is used) and is the operative function in poetry as well as slogans.
• Theemotive^{[note 1]}function: relates to the Addresser (sender) and is best exemplified byinterjections and other sound changes that do not alter thedenotative meaning of anutterance but do add information about the Addresser's (speaker's) internal state, e.g. "Wow, what a view!" Whether a person is experiencing feelings of happiness, sadness, grief or otherwise, they use this function to express themselves.
• Theconative function: engages the Addressee (receiver) directly and is best illustrated byvocatives andimperatives, e.g. "Tom! Come inside and eat!"
• Thephatic function: is language for the sake of interaction and is therefore associated with the Contact/Channel factor. The phatic function can be observed in greetings and casual discussions of the weather, particularly with strangers. It also provides the keys to open, maintain, verify or close the communication channel: "Hello?", "OK?", "Hummm", "Bye"...
• The metalingual (alternatively called "metalinguistic" or "reflexive") function: is the use of language (what Jakobson calls "Code") to discuss or describe itself.

• Duranti, Alessandro (1997).Linguistic anthropology. New York: Cambridge University Press.ISBN 978-0-511-81019-0.OCLC 191952948.
• Hébert, Louis (2011)."The Functions of Language".Signo. Rimouski, Quebec:Université du Québec à Rimouski.
• Jakobson, Roman (1960)."Closing statements: Linguistics and Poetics"(PDF). InSebeok, Thomas Albert (ed.).Style in language. New-York:M.I.T. p. 470.ISBN 978-0-262-69010-2.{{cite book}}:ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)

• Theories of language
• Information theory

• Articles with short description
• Short description matches Wikidata
• CS1 errors: ISBN date