1.C. Instrumental function

When we say something and something happens as a result of our speaking, then our comments have been instrumental in causing those events to happen. The instrumental function of communication is one of its most common purposes. We request a secretary to type three copies of a letter. We ask a friend at dinner to pass the butter, salt, etc. We order a salesman out of the house. Instrumental function of communication is loose enough to allow for several kinds of statements. There are statements that are clearly instrumental in their wording. If we say "Shut the door" and the door is then shut, we may assume that the noise we made was influential in the shutting of the door. There are also statements for which the result cannot be easily attributed to our utterances. If on a day planned for a picnic it is raining and so we sing, "Rain, rain, go away" - and the rain does stop it could be immodest to assume that our words caused that action. Much of prayer has been traditionally instrumental and if the faithful believe that some prayers have been answered we could say that for these people the prayer was an instrumental communication.

Some statements are instrumental in intent or effect, but are not phrased as such. For example, if you want the salt passed to you, you may request it directly (instrumental) or you comment that the food needs salt (transmitting information). If a wife wants a new fur coat, she may request it directly or she may comment on how well dressed her husband seems, especially when compared to her (apparently an effective technique). One instrumental request may result in a different instrumental action, as when commercial airlines do not ask passengers to stop smoking but to "observe the no smoking sign".

l.d. Affective function

Communication in which the message evokes emotional feelings of the speaker toward the listener is known as affective communication. Compliments, praise, flattery, snide and cutting remarks may be so classified. There are affective elements in many of the functions of communication. Phatic communication may contain praise as when old friends greet by saying, "You are looking great!" Instrumental purposes are often best served through effective communications too. It seems to be part of a woman's role in our society to use more affective communication than does the opposite sex. Where tradition has not given women authority in all situations women have had to achieve their goals indirectly. And this indirection may be reflected in instrumental desires disguised in affective language. The wife who says to her husband "You look so handsome all dressed up ", might be requesting a new wardrobe for herself, or be asking to go out to dinner rather than just complimenting her husband. Affective language is also convincing language. In many cases a person would not do something if asked to do it directly; he would be aware of reasons that might not be able to accept. We seem to prefer to do things we think we want to do, not things we are told to do. To make another person feel good or bad through language is a rather common and vital function of communication. The non-affecting communication may be honest, fair, sincere. But to one who does not expect it the communication is cold and unfeeling.