When asked why we communicate, many people immediately think of expressing wants, needs, or goals—the basic, utilitarian purpose. While crucial, communication serves a much broader and more complex set of roles in our personal lives, in our education, and in the professional world.
Here is a simple, comprehensive guide to the Eight Essential Functions of Communication:
1. Informative Function
This is the bedrock of learning and knowledge transfer. The Informative Function is driven by the desire to share facts, data, news, and knowledge with others.
- In Education: Teachers and students engage in speaking and listening activities primarily to acquire and transmit information, skills, and values.
- In Organizations: Information is shared to ensure everyone understands necessary procedures, processes, and knowledge required for efficient operation.
2. Instructive Function
The Instructive Function goes beyond mere information to guide and direct action. It is often employed by those in authority, those with experience, or those who possess critical knowledge.
- Goal: To tell people what to do, when and where to do it, and how to execute the task.
- Example: A manager explaining a new workflow to their team, or a technical manual providing step-by-step guidance.
3. Persuasive Function
The Persuasive Function is focused on influencing the thoughts, opinions, and behaviors of others. We communicate persuasively when we want people to accept our claims, adopt our beliefs, or change their existing perspectives.
- Strategy: Developing strategies—such as using evidence, logic, or emotional appeal—to encourage the audience to decide accordingly.
- Example: A political speech, an advertising campaign, or a student defending a thesis.
4. Motivational Function
We use the Motivational Function to inspire, entice, and direct people towards achieving their objectives or life goals.
- Method: Utilizing positive and encouraging language to help individuals realize that their actions will lead to beneficial outcomes.
- Example: A coach giving a pep talk, a public speaker rallying volunteers, or a parent encouraging a child to study hard.
5. Aesthetic Function
The Aesthetic Function refers to using language for pleasure, enjoyment, and creative expression. This function celebrates the beauty and artistry of communication itself.
- Form: It encompasses literature, poetry, storytelling, and witty conversation where the structure and sound of the message are as important as the content.
- Example: Reading a novel, composing a song lyric, or appreciating a beautifully crafted metaphor.
6. Therapeutic Function (Emotional Expression)
The Therapeutic Function—often called Emotional Expression—serves a curative purpose, helping individuals maintain good mental and emotional health.
- Process: Simply talking to a friend, counselor, or teacher to vent feelings, express problems, or process difficulties. Often, the act of speaking alone, without seeking advice, allows the person to achieve clarity and return to a better condition for thinking.
- Benefit: Communication serves as a critical outlet for internal stress and helps individuals examine and manage their emotional state.
7. Regulation/Control
The Regulation/Control Function is used to maintain command and influence over the attitudes and behavior of others within a specific environment.
- In Governance: Parents reprimand or guide children; teachers direct student efforts; administrators maintain order.
- In Business and Media: Leaders use communication to manage employees and the work environment, and media uses it to urge the public to buy a product or support an advocacy.
- Nonverbal Communication: Nonverbal signals, like a stern look from a boss or a parent, are powerful tools of regulation.
8. Social Interaction
The Social Interaction Function allows us to initiate, maintain, regulate, or terminate relationships with the people around us.
- Relationship Building: We establish a positive social climate by greeting people, exchanging pleasantries, and conversing to build familiarity and a sense of belonging. Smiling at a new colleague or starting a casual conversation are key elements.
- Self- and Other-Understanding: By observing how others react to what we say and do, we gain a deeper understanding of ourselves. Conversely, by listening to their opinions, beliefs, and feelings, we understand them better, leading to more nourished and meaningful relationships.
Communication Functions in the Business World
In a business context, these eight functions are often distilled into three primary objectives that drive organizational success:
- To Inform: Sharing operational data, policies, and market news.
- To Persuade: Convincing clients to buy, or employees to adopt new initiatives.
- To Promote Goodwill: Building and maintaining positive relationships with internal (employees, staff) and external stakeholders (clients, customers).
