On Linguistic Functions Concerning Power And Solidarity

A full comprehension of language is dependent on the context it is set in. Context is an extremely abstract concept. Power and solidarity, as two dimensions for language comprehension, vertically and horizontally, on certain degree influence the possible linguistic choice and its implied meaning. An analysis of functions of the possible linguistic choice will benefit a lot for the comprehension of language.Power and solidarity can exhibit no more than a carrier on which language, as the entity, reflects the interpersonal relationship of the speech participants. This paper tries every means to find out the possible linguistic signals and styles, such as deictic terms, address terms, verb and adverb patterns, code-switching and style variation etc. to be accordent with power and solidarity. The focus of this paper is the analysis of the linguistic functions concerning power and solidarity, with the application of Jakobson's theory of correspondent relationship between linguistic contexts and functions as well as Halliday's theory of Functional grammar.According to Austin's linguistic philosophy, the more powerful speech participant possesses stronger linguistic force, whose language can on certain degree exerts performative function, so as to change the addressee's social status or even fate, and control the topic or the turn-taking in communication. From the polite principle, the language choice of those with more power is two-dimensioned. They try to weaken their power and enhance the solidarity with the addressee for optimizing their interest. Meanwhile, for their fighting validity, they might widen their power gap with the addressee, so as to change the addressee's attitude to something and fulfill the emotive function of language. Further more, some language can exhibit phatic function to maintain a sound interrelationship for the smooth communication. In the framework of Halliday's Functional Grammar, the power-solidarity relationship exerts influences on the interpersonal function. It is considered as the tenor of discourse, constraining the mood and modality system in language.The purpose of this study is to conduct an functional analysis of the linguistic forms from different power groups for the full comprehension of language. Meanwhile the frequency of contact or the devotion of affection on certain degree can neutralize the power gap between speech participants and certain solidarity can be obtained. The possible change can form the concrete tenor of discourse and influence the context. The analysis of linguistic functions in different context is the comprehension of language from different power groups.The analysis of linguistic functions concerning power and solidarity also has great significance on the appropriate linguistic choice for politeness. The speaker, as the entity for speech communication, only taking the linguistic regulations and social conventions into account, to make appropriate linguistic choice, can linguistic form fulfill the social significances.