What is the appellative function
The appellative or conative function is a type of language function used with the purpose of attracting the attention of a recipient to obtain a response or induce a reaction.
It is part of one of the six functions of language identified by the linguist Roman Jackobson, along with the referential function, phatic function, emotive or expressive function, poetic function and metalinguistic function.
It is called “appeal” insofar as the sender appeals to a receiver, that is, he appeals to a person, expecting from him the ability to react or respond to a certain situation or issue.
For example, when a person asks another person a question for which he or she expects a response, it is called an appeal function.
The appellative or conative function usually uses the following elements: the vocative, the imperative mood and the interrogative mood. The grammatical forms of questions, exhortations, orders, instructions; threats, requests, etc., are appeals.
Some examples could be: “José, can you help me carry this suitcase?”; “Stop or I’ll shoot!”; “Read the entire exam before answering”; “I beg you to think better”, “When did you arrive?”, etc.
Since its purpose is to provoke a response or reaction, the appellative function is used exhaustively by masive means of comunication, especially in advertising and propaganda. For example, the slogans “Buy paracetamol” or “Vote for the New World party” are phrases with an appellative function, which adhere to the imperative form.
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