11 Bilingual education seeks to develop the learners’ ability in their first
language while building both social and academic language proficiency in their second language. This type of setting allows them to keep up academically with
others by way of first language instruction in the core curriculum until such time as they have gained sufficient cognitive and second language development to allow
them an opportunity to succeed in their second language.
2. Language Functions Theory
Brown 1987 states that “the result of language learning is not simply in the mastery of the forms of the language, but the mastery of the forms in order to
accomplish the communicative functions of language”. He adds that forms of language generally serve specific functions. For example, “How much does it cost?”
is usually a form functioning a question, and “He bought a car” functions as a statement.
Since the term function has been variously interpreted, Halliday 1973 as cited by Brown 1987 uses the term to mean the purposive nature of communication,
and outlines seven different functions of language. a. The first function is known as the instrumental function. Instrumental function is
the use of language to get things. b. The second function is the regulatory function. People use regulatory function of
language in order to control other’s behaviors.
12 c. The third function is the representational function. It is the use of language to
make statements, convey facts and knowledge, explain or report. d. The fourth function of language is the interactional function. People use
interactional function of language in order to ensure social maintenance. e. The fifth function of language is the personal function. People usually use this
function when they want to express feelings, emotion and personality. f. The sixth function of language is the heuristic function, which is used to acquire
knowledge and to learn about the environment. Heuristic functions are often conveyed in the form of question that will lead to answer.
g. The last function of language is the imaginative function. People will use imaginative function to create imaginary system or idea. People use this function,
for instance, when they are telling fairy tales, joking or writing a novel, which require their imagination to create a fantasy.
By knowing the functions of language, people are intended to be able to recognize each of the language function. Halliday also would like to give information
to people so that people may know the basic theory of language functions and also its description.
3. Classroom Language Functions
