Functional Language

The purpose of the Functional Language section:

This section contains resources to help identify and provide examples of functional language. The WIDA Standards Framework emphasizes a functional approach to language development. Language functions are the language the student needs in order to do the content.

Some examples of language functions include describe, explain, discuss, advise, suggest, warn, inform, predict, clarify, apologize, list, compare, contrast, persuade, argue, justify, defend, blame, critique, compliment, recount, retell, narrate, question, request, agree, and disagree. These are examples and do not constitute an all-exhaustive list of language functions.

WIDA Resources:

Explanation of Functional Language

Language is organized around its communicative purpose. In order for English learners to achieve communicative competence, they need to understand the purpose for communicating and be able to recognize and use the grammatical forms and organizational patterns that support that purpose. The advantage of a functional approach is that language is not taught for its own sake; rather it demonstrates how language operates in all areas of the curriculum (Derewianka, 1990). When educators make language functions explicit, they define more fully the tasks that students must be able to perform in the content areas (Chamot & O’Malley, 1994) and can help to focus students and teachers on meaning-making (Gee, 2008; Moschkovich, 2002).

Citation: Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System. (2020). WIDA English Language Development Standards Framework, 2020 Edition Kindergarten – Grade 12. (Publication). Wisconsin Center for Education Research at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Key Language Uses

Key Language Uses are the four language functions that WIDA has found occur most frequently in the current academic standards for English Language Arts, mathematics, science, and social studies. Section 3 of the WIDA ELD Standards Framework, 2020 edition contains grade level cluster materials that are organized by each standard and illustrate ways to teach these key language uses to provide multilingual learners with access to grade level content standards. The four Key Language Uses are:

Narrate
Inform
Explain
Argue

Other Language Functions

Within the grade level cluster materials, WIDA also includes other language functions that are needed to do the Key Language Use. These other language functions are stepping stones to the Key Language Use.

Supplemental Resources:

Academic Language Function TOOLKIT

Suggestion for use: This resource is a planning tool to support educators in facilitating academic language development within content areas. It outlines examples, strategies, graphic organizers, cue words, and language frames for various language functions.

Citation: Kinsella, K. (2010). Academic Language Toolkit (Training Packet).

Language Functions Tool

Suggestion for use: This resource is a planning tool to support educators in facilitating academic language development within content areas. It outlines graphic organizers, possible questions, key signal words, and sentence frames for various language functions.

Citation: Confianza LLC. (2019). Co-created with Confianza Partner School, the American International School of Bucharest, Romania. Language Functions Tool.