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1-12.

Lecture 5
Functions of communication
Plan
1. Functions of verbal communication,
l.a. Phatic communication.
l.b. Self-other understanding and establishing meaningful relationships.
1.e. Instrumental function,
l.d. Affective function.
1.e. Catharsis.
1f. Magic function,
l.g. Ritual function.

1. 
   Functions of nonverbal communication.
   

1.a. Phatic communicaton
Every communication experience serves one or more functions. It can help us to discover who we are, aid us in establishing meaningful relationships or prompt us to examine and try to change either our own attitude and behaviour or the attitude and behavior of others. Small talk, uninspired greetings and idle chatter form the fundamental type of communication that Bronislaw Malinowski called phatic communion. To show that we welcome communication, that we are friendly or that we at least acknowledge the presence of another person, we exchange words like, "How are you?" or "Hello” or "Nice day". There may be variations, based on geography "Howdy!” or familiarity "Hi ya, Baby! or specific conditions "Cold enough for у a?". In phatic communication the specific words exchanged are not important. The only rule that is applied to phatic communion is that "the subject" of communication is such that each party can say something about it. That is why everybody talks about the weather. The important thing is to talk - and this is why so much of phatic communication begins with a question, for a question requires a reply. We do not request specific information in phatic communion and we are not expected to reply with precision or accuracy. If we are greeted with a "How are you?” we do not reply as we might if our doctor asked the question. When we are precise, the result is likely to be humorous. Members of secret organizations sometimes speak in code when they meet to determine whether each knows the password, special handshake or other symbol. If the answer to the secret question is not precise, then the other is not regarded as a brother Mason or sister Theta or whatever, and subsequent communication will be prevented. Such coded phatic communion dates from times when members of such organizations might be persecuted, if discovered. Among some secret organizations today the reverse seems to be true. The coded greeting is often expressed loudly, more for the benefit of the outsiders than for the "secret" members. Phatic communication is usually the most casual, even careless form of communication. The stories of persons passing through receiving lines and saying something like "I have just killed my mother-in-law" which is met with a smile and a "Fine, I hope you're enjoying yourself' are well-known. They illustrate what little is attached to phatic communication, so little that the speaker is not even listened to. In such extreme cases, however, we may wonder to what extent the channels of communication have been opened after that exchange of noises. In any case, it seems that we prefer some noise to no noise.