The communicative view of language

Introduction

The communicative, or functional view of language is the view that language is a vehicle for the expression of functional meaning. The semantic and communicative dimensions of language are more emphasized than the grammatical characteristics, although these are also included.

Areas of research drawn on

Here are some of the areas of research in this view of language:

sociolinguistics
pragmatics
semantics

Target of language learning

The target of language learning is to learn to express communication functions and categories of meaning

Approaches and methods based on this view

Some of the language learning approaches and methods based on this view of language are:

communicative approaches
functional-notional syllabuses
The Natural Approach

Source

Adapted from Richards and Rodgers 1986