Slovenian Language

Language functions

The following is an extensive, but not exhaustive, list of a variety of functions, which form a part of communication between people, and could be useful in any teaching approach:

accepting or refusing	expressing:	introducing
advising	ability or inability	inviting
agreeing or disagreeing	certainty or uncertainty	justifying
analysing or interpreting	comprehension (or lack of)	leave-taking, farewelling, or closing (letter)
apologising or forgiving	emotion	leave-taking, farewelling, or closing (letter)
approving or disapproving	hope	making arrangements
asking for / giving information	intention	mediating or conciliating
asking for, giving or refusing permission	interest, lack of interest, indifference or boredom	negotiating
asking for, giving or refusing permission	interest, lack of interest, indifference or boredom	offering
attracting attention	like, dislike or preference	persuading or dissuading
blaming	like, dislike or preference	planning
clarifying	needs, wishes or wants	praising or blaming
comparing	obligation	promising
complaining	opinion	recounting experiences / events
confirming / admitting / denying	possibility or impossibility	reporting
congratulating or complimenting	probability or improbability	requesting
contradicting	regret	responding
defining	surprise	seeking / requesting information
describing	understanding	suggesting
discussing	greeting or welcoming	thanking
encouraging	hypothesising	warning
evaluating	identifying
explaining	instructing / directing / ordering

Written by Aleksandra Ceferin on 03/11/00 | permalink |

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About Aleksandra Ceferin

Aleksandra Ceferin (M.A., B.A., Dip.Ed.) has introduced Slovenian language as a school subject in Australian school system and founded the Slovenian Teachers' Association of Victoria in 1976. She has extensive experience in language education: as teacher, lecturer, curriculum coordinator, course writer, language consultant and manager, VCE State Reviewer and Chief Examiner. Since 1998 she has been the President of ISSV and the manager and chief editor of its projects. Aleksandra visits Slovenian annually, establishing and maintaining contacts with Slovenia, and initiating exchanges and cooperation between organizations. In 2004 she was the recipient of the National Education Award of RS Slovenia.