result that it is not limited in time and space. Secondly, each language is both arbitrary and systematic. It means that none of languages behave in exactly the
same way yet each language has its own set of rules. The last is that there are no primitive or inferior languages. It means that, although people live in the most
primitive conditions but all languages appear to be equally complex and all are absolutely adequate to the needs of their users.
In addition Fairclough 1989: 22 says that language as a form of social practice. There are three implication from this definition. First, It can be implied
that language is a part of society. Second, language is a social process. The last is that language is a socially conditioned process. It is different with Coultas 2003:
5 who says that language can reflects the speaker’s personality, beliefs, attitudes and values. According to Harmer 1991: 4 language is an intesely political issues
since it is bound up with identity and power. It can be concluded that language has relationship with society and it can be used as the reflection of speaker’s
personality, beliefs, attitudes, identity and power.
b. Functions of Langauge
Language is an integral part of human’s existence. Human needs language for a variety of purposes of administration, commerce, education and
communication. It is natural and beneficial to use mother language for the purposes of education and communication. Many experts have diffrent
argumentation about the function of language. Brown and Yule 1996: 14 propose the function of language becomes transactional function and interactional
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functions. Transactional function is a function to reveal the contents, while the interactional function is a function of language in social relations and personal
attitudes. Besides as a communication tool, language is also used as power tool. Moreover Chouliaraki and Fairclough 1999 assume that individuals and groups
use language to achieve a variety of social purposes and considers the relationship between everyday social practices social events and society social structures.
Thomas and Wareing 2005: 8 describe the functions of language into two; referential function and affective impact. These two functions are the ones
most clearly associated with power. The referential function is the one associated with what objects and ideas are called and how events are described i.e. how we
represent the world around us and the effects of those representations on the way we think. The affective function of language is concerned with who is ‘allowed’
to say what to whom, which is deeply tied up with power and social status. By selecting one as appropriate and not another, someone will exploite the affective
aspect of language and show the sensitiveness to the power or social relationship between speaker and the person who is addressed. For example, saying ‘I think
it’s time you wash your hair’ will be an acceptable comment from a parent to a young child, but it will not usually be acceptable from employees to their boss.
Here are more examples: a Put that bunch of flowers on the table.
b Please put that bunch of flowers on the table. c I wonder if you’d mind putting that bunch of flowers on the table.
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d If you wouldn’t mind awfully, do you think you might put that bunch flowers on the table.
Halliday in Brown and Yule 1996: 251 outlines seven functions of language. They are:
a. The instrumental function. Language is to manipulate the environtment, to cause certain events to happen. For examples: “This court finds you
guilty” and “Don’t touch the stove”. Those sentences are communicative acts that have a specific perlocutionary force; they bring about a particular
condition. b. The regulatory function. Language is as the control of events. For
example: “Upon good behaviour, you will be eligible for parole in ten months”. The regulations of encounters among people- appropval,
disapproval, behaviour control, setting laws and rules- are all regulatory features of language.
c. The representational function. Language is to make statements, convey facts and knowledge, explain, or report that is to represent reality as one
sees it. For example: “The sun is hot” and “ the president gave a speech last night”.
d. The interactional function. Language is to ensure social maintenance. e. The personal function. The language is to express feelings, emotions, and
personality.
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f. The heuristics function. Language is to acquire knowledge, to learn about
the environtment. Heuristics functions are coveyed in the form of questions that will lead to answer.
g. The imaginative function. Language is to create imaginary systemsor ideas. Through the imaginative dimensions of language, someone is free to
go beyond the real world to soar the heights of the beauty of language itself.
3. The Nature of Power a. The Definition of Power
