2.2. Neutral, Common literary and common colloquial vocabulary

Neutral words form the bulk of the English vocabulary. They are used in both literary and colloquial types of speech, i.e. they are universal. Neutral words are the main source of synonymy and polysemy. It is the neutral stock of words that is so prolific in the production of new meanings and words. Most neutral words are monosyllabic as in the process of the development from old English to Modern English most of the parts of speech lost their suffixes. This led to conversion as the most productive means of word-building.

Neutral words have no stylistic coloring unlike literary and colloquial words which are stylistically colored, colloquial words being more emotionally colored than literary ones.

Common literary vocabulary is part of the Standard English vocabulary. It borders on neutral and special literary vocabulary. It is chiefly used in writing and in polished oral speech. We may only say that the exact definition of what common literary vocabulary is does not exist because no objective criteria have been worked out that might distinguish it from other groups of the vocabulary.

Common literary words in themselves are not expressive means, but they may become expressive means if they are used in opposition to a different stratum of words.

Common colloquial vocabulary is part of Standard English vocabulary. It borders on the neutral and special colloquial vocabulary. There is no uniformity in stylistic coloring within this group. Some units are close to the non-standard colloquial groups, such as jargonisms or professionalisms, some approach the neutral layer, e.g. teenager, which is widely used, but retains a colloquial character.

2.3. Literary stratum of words. Special literary vocabulary

• Terms

• Poetic and highly literary words

• Archaic words and obsolete words

• Literary coinages (including nonce-words).

• Barbarisms and Foreign Words.

2.3.1. Terms

Term is a word or word-group which is specifically employed by a particular branch of science, technology, trade or the arts to convey a notion peculiar to this particular activity. Terms are generally associated with a definite branch of science. The main stylistic function of terms is to create, the true-to-life atmosphere of the narration, but terms can also be used with a parodying function, thus creating humorous effect.

Terms are generally associated with a definite branch of science. They always come in clusters, either in a text or in special dictionaries. Taken all together, these clusters of terms form system of names of any particular branch of science. Thus we may speak of terms of linguistics, law, music, sports, medical terms, etc. Terms are characterized by tendency to be monosemantic.

There is an interesting process going on in the development of any language. With the increase of general education and the expansion of technique to satisfy the ever-growing needs and desires of mankind, many words that were once terms have gradually lost their qualities as terms and have passed into the common literary or neutral vocabulary. This process may be called determinization.

Terms can be divided into 3 main groups depending on the character of their etymology:

1. Terms formed from Greek, Latin, French, German and other foreign sources: botany, anatomy, schedule (Greek); estate, parliament (Latin); facade, retreat (French), etc.

2. Terms formed by means of special suffixes or prefixes: ultra-violet; unti-dote; trans-plant.

3. Terms formed from the common word stock by means of semantic change: tank, company (military), wing (archit), etc.

Any term taken separately has the following peculiarities:

1. it has no emotional value;

2. it has a direct logical reference to the object or process it denotes;

3. it is usually monosemantic, at least in the given field of science, technique or art.

Although terms are stylistically neutral, they may be used with a stylistic purpose. In a story or novel terms may acquire a certain expressive or emotional quality. They may enhance the realistic background of the work or they may characterize a person through his speech (mode of expression).