Poetic Function Example

The poetic function, also called the aesthetic function of language, is the function through which the expression of an idea is enriched, focusing mainly on the way it is expressed, giving it musicality, rhyme, metaphors and other figures of expression poetics. It is used mainly in written language.

Language, both oral and written, expresses states of mind and ideas of the person who emits it, and in their study these functions have been classified and divided into six types:

1. Expressive or emotional, with which states of mind and emotions are manifested
2. Conative or appellative, which is responsible for expressing orders, requests or exhortations
3. Referential, which is when reality, concepts and ideas are spoken objectively
4. Metalinguistics, which refers to the very meaning of the words that are used
5. Fática, which is in charge of marking the rhythms, beginnings and ends of conversations or ideas
6. Poetics, which is the function that, in addition to expressing the idea, deals mainly with the way in which the idea is expressed, altering or enriching the language to increase the expressiveness of the message.
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The poetic function enriches a concept or idea using adjectives and adverbs that highlight qualities and characteristics of the subject. It also uses many poetic and literary figures to enrich expression. Some of the most important are the following:

Musicality and rhyme. Although the expression is not a verse as such, it can be expressed with cadence and musicality, for example:

Idea: Today dawned clear.
Poetic expression: Today is a radiant, smiling and bright morning.

Comparisons. Poetic comparison is also a frequently used element to enrich the expression:

Idea: Esther looks good.
Poetic expression: Esther looks like an April rose.

Metaphors. They express an analogy, sometimes exchanging the subject for the object to which it is compared.

Idea: Tania won the race and here she comes.
Poetic expression: Here comes our undefeated gazelle.

Hyperbaton. It is the alteration of the logical order of the words, which causes more attention to be paid to them:

Idea: You must study to improve yourself.
Poetic expression: If you want to get big, you must study with determination.

Word games. They are expressions in which homophony (similar sounds), context and double meaning are used:

Idea: Come buy bread at “La princesa” bakery.
Poetic expression: If you like to put the horns on your husband on the table, buy them at "La princesa" bakery.

Contradictions. Conflicting expressions or ideas are used to highlight the main idea; it is a type of comparison between contradictory ideas:

Idea: She is an unpleasant person.
Poetic expression: He is a person as sweet as garlic bread.

Euphemisms. It is the use of a nuanced expression or a circumlocution (to turn it around) to avoid mentioning a concept or an idea directly:

Idea: Her aunt died yesterday.
Poetic expression: Yesterday her aunt passed away.

Although the poetic function of language is used mainly in literature, both in verse and in prose, it is also We use it in colloquial language, in which we constantly use many metaphors, contradictions and games of words. Another area where it is widely used is in advertisements, in order to adorn and convince the idea that they are exposing us or inciting us to consume the product they offer us.

We find this type of language function in sayings and proverbs, as well as in many riddles, riddles, and charades.

Furthermore, as in many cases, this language function is combined with one or more of the other functions, forming complex expression structures:

• The sun shines like gold in all the high (Referential and poetic)
• In this work I feel like a fish in water (Expressive and poetic)
• It is time for the little princess to lift the real mess in her room (conative and poetic)
• Here a cup was broken and everyone stops his house (fatic and poetic)

Examples of the poetic or expressive function of language

1. Since he was scolded, he has been walking with his tail between his legs.
2. The computer runs smooth as silk.
3. Eating like a bird will harm your health.
4. Eat apple and you will be healthier.
5. How would it ever be to reach the distant moons?
6. He who takes care to be good, he does not have time to do good.
7. The arrow of your gaze pierces my heart.
8. It was a short, short, thick, thick drizzle.
9. If you want to move forward, you must take the first step.
10. Rustic ladies sell more ripe fruits.
11. The forest glows with greenery.
12. In these votes the candidates go head to head.
13. Although the monkey dresses in silk, the monkey stays.
14. Time creeps on.
15. It's time for the chop.
16. The stony road, annoying.
17. My path is long and my steps are short.
18. I am not concerned with the complicated, but the tiring.
19. To eat and scratch the job is to start.
20. In the field there is a feast of trills and murmurs.
21. Here I am stunned by so much silence.
22. The idea is not bad, the bad is the idea.
23. The best thing about craps is not playing them.
24. In the end, the big losers are the ones who keep everything to themselves.
25. The mischievous moon watched us through the park.
26. A laughing river passed in front of the cabin.
27. The rough sea played with the boats.
28. A breeze caressed her pale face.
29. Daylight was afraid to interrupt that moment.
30. An extremely pertinent silence filled the room.
31. That girl has a head full of smoke.
32. We know the objects around us through thought, but we do not always think the objects as they are.
33. Making a fried egg seems simple, but even for that you have to have talent.
34. The problem is not not knowing how to do something, the problem is never trying.
35. The example is the theory put into practice.
36. Some simple things require complicated design, while complicated facts have a number of simple explanations.
37. It's not about how difficult something is, but how willing you are to put your time into it.
38. Everything complicated begins with the simplest.
39. Idleness is the mother of all vices.
40. An ignorant leader is a blind man leading another.
41. In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.
42. This is perseverance: even a weak drop of water pierces the stones.
43. Where to buy food? In Armida stores.
44. Carballo shipments, in his house like lightning.
45. The saddest thing about meeting is having to say goodbye.
46. Time forgets everything. But I am not the time nor do I have Alzheimer's.
47. Learning is good. Understanding is better.
48. I came, I saw and I left.
49. Everyone feels fear, but not everyone faces it.
50. Don't think so much, your head is going to hurt.

Learn about the other functions of language:

• Appellate function example.
• Expressive function example.
• Example of phatic function.
• Example of metalinguistic function.
• Referential function example.