A definition, used to denote one of the six main functions of communicative exchange – the function that in such an exchange is oriented to the addressee. The same message can be emotive or conative.
For example, if someone says “I’m tired” just to inform about their condition, then the message is addressee-oriented and emotive. However, if with this utterance, he is trying to say “Let’s go home“, then the dominant function of the message is conative, as it is not so much disclosure as a call to the recipient of the message.
Grammatically, the imperative or vocative expressions (“Open the window” and “For God’s sake, I beg you”) most clearly illustrate the conative function.
