Roman Osipovich Jakobson (1896-1982) was a prominent Russian-American linguist, literary theorist, and semiotician. Considered one of the most influential linguists of the twentieth century, Jakobson made significant contributions to the fields of structural linguistics, poetics, and communication theory.
Born in Moscow, Jakobson embarked on a distinguished career that spanned several continents. He played a key role in the development of the Moscow Linguistic Circle, which pioneered the study of phonology and structural linguistics. Jakobson's work revolved around the idea that language is a complex system of signs and that its study should focus on the relationships between these signs and their underlying structures.
One of Jakobson's foundational contributions was his distinction of six functions of language. He argued that language serves six primary purposes: referential (to convey information), poetic (to highlight the form and sound of language), emotive (to express emotions), conative (to influence the behavior of others), phatic (to establish social contact), and metalingual (to discuss language itself). This framework provided a comprehensive understanding of the multi-faceted nature of linguistic communication.
Throughout his career, Jakobson explored numerous linguistic phenomena, including phonemic theory, syntax, and metaphor. He also developed theories in the field of poetics, examining the underlying structures of poetry and their expressive power. Jakobson's seminal works, such as "Linguistics and Poetics" and "Closing Statement: Linguistics and Poetics," continue to inspire generations of scholars and enrich the fields of linguistics, literary theory, and semiotics with their innovative and interdisciplinary approach.
