Translation as a communicative unit in language

On the one hand, the given model ties its components to various func-tions of language: “Language must be investigated in all the varietyof its functions” (Jakobson 1985a [1956]: 113). On the other hand,along with the various functions of language, it is also important forJakobson to distinguish two principle levels of language — the levelof objective language and the level of metalanguage: “On these twodifferent levels of language the same verbal stock may be used; thuswe may speak in English (as metalanguage) about English (as objectlanguage) and interpret English words and sentences by means ofEnglish synonyms and circumlocutions” .

On the one hand, the given model ties its components to various func-tions of language: “Language must be investigated in all the varietyof its functions” (Jakobson 1985a [1956]: 113). On the other hand,along with the various functions of language, it is also important forJakobson to distinguish two principle levels of language — the levelof objective language and the level of metalanguage: “On these twodifferent levels of language the same verbal stock may be used; thuswe may speak in English (as metalanguage) about English (as objectlanguage) and interpret English words and sentences by means ofEnglish synonyms and circumlocutions” .

The actualization of the concept of metalanguage as “an innermostlinguistic problem” (Jakobson 1985a [1956]: 121), which emergesfrom Jakobson’s logic, is important for an understanding of thepsychological as well as linguistic and cultural aspects of the functio-nality of language.He begins from the metalinguistic aspect of the linguistic develop-ment of a child: “Metalanguage is the vital factor of any verbaldevelopment. The interpretation of one linguistic sign through other,in some respects homogeneous, signs of the same language, is ametalingual operation which plays an essential role in child language learning”.

The actualization of the concept of metalanguage as “an innermostlinguistic problem” (Jakobson 1985a [1956]: 121), which emergesfrom Jakobson’s logic, is important for an understanding of thepsychological as well as linguistic and cultural aspects of the functio-nality of language.He begins from the metalinguistic aspect of the linguistic develop-ment of a child: “Metalanguage is the vital factor of any verbaldevelopment. The interpretation of one linguistic sign through other,in some respects homogeneous, signs of the same language, is ametalingual operation which plays an essential role in child language learning”.