In favor of a functional and multimodal approach to linguistic studies

from Jakobson’s functions to Halliday’s and Kress and Van Leeuwen’s metafunctions

Abstract

Although several scholars have discussed language functions, such as Bühler (1934), Morris (1967), Britton (1970), enabling research anchored in several functionalist theories, in this paper, the theme is developed through the ideas of Jakobson (1985), Halliday (1989) and Kress and van Leeuwen (2006). From this perspective, this paper aims at discussing the relations between functions and metafunctions of these scholars as possibilities of theoretical and methodological basis in researches, developing a dialogue towards a multimodal approach to text analysis. The study is anchored on Jakobson's (1985) functions of language, Halliday's (1989) metafunctions for verbal texts, and Kress and van Leeuwen's (2006) metafunctions for visual texts. In methodological terms, this paper is a theoretical essay, developing around a comparative proposal between the mentioned functions and metafunctions, culminating in the defense of a multimodal approach for text analysis. Thus, initially, the possible similarities and differences between the functions and metafunctions of language established by these scholars are described. Next, arguments are presented for a multimodal approach to linguistic studies that relate the verbal and the visual. Finally, we highlight as relevant the dissemination of these approaches as analytical tools applicable in multimodal texts and the participation of language scholars in regular continuing education as a means of expanding this knowledge.