32. Which classification of phonetic styles do you prefer?

. There exist different classifications of phonetic styles. Each of these classifications is based on the criterion, which the scholar who created it considers to be the most reliable. Gaiduchick distinguishes 5 phonetic styles: solemn, scientific-business, official business, everyday and familiar. As we can see this classification correlates with the system of functional styles of the language. The styles are differentiated on the basis of spheres of discourse. A different principle of classification is suggested by Dubovsky who singles out the following 5 styles: informal ordinary, formal neutral, formal official, informal familiar and declamatory. The division is based on different degrees of formality or rather familiarity between the speaker and the listener. Within each style subdivisions are observed.

We think that the classification of phonetic styles should be based on the purpose of communication, which is the most significant extralinguistic factor. However, when choosing an adequate criterion for the classification we should take into consideration the difference between the segmental and suprasegmental levels of analysis. The point is that stylistic variations of sounds and intonations result from different combinations of extralinguistic factors. Thus, stylistic modifications of sound are caused primarily by the degree of formality, variation of intonation are basically determined by the aim of communication. The degree of the influence of each factor is also different as regards segmental and suprasegmental units.

The influence of extralinguistic factors on segmental and suprasegmental characteristics of speech:

Phonetic units	Extralinguistic factors
Segmental (speech sounds)	Degree of formality, degree of spontaneity
Suprasegmental (intonation)	Purpose of communication, degree of formality, degree of spontaneity, speaker`s attitude

Five phonetic styles can be singled out according to the purpose of communication:

1. Informational style

2. Academic (Scientific) style

3. Publicistic (Oratorial) style

4. Declamatory (Artistic) style

5. Conversational (Familiar) style

I prefer this system of classification, because of an adequate criterion for the classification, which is the aim of communication; the system is quite clear (there is no division into formal and informal styles as in Dubovsky`s classification) and this system defines the choice of phonetic means.

33. In which spheres of communication is informational style used? what are its main prosodic characteristics?

Informational style is characteristic of classroom teaching, press reporting, business communication, broadcasting. The speaker’s aim is to convey information. Generally there is not much personal involvement. You remember the texts “Television”, “National Character” and others. Typical intonation patterns used are Falling and Level Heads (often Mid level) + Low Falls and Low Rises and Mid level tone. The pitch level tends to be medium or low, pitch range – medium or narrow. The tempo is not greatly varied, besides syntactical pauses hesitation pauses are used in informational speaking.

Among the prosodic features we should mention the following:

Loudness is relatively stable and normal, but close to the phonopassage boundaries there is a gradual decrease of it. Thus it is easy to spot the boundaries by loudness contrasts between the final and initial intonation groups of two adjacent phonopassages. The same could be said about levels and ranges: there is a distinctly marked decrease of them within the phonopassage.

The rate of utterances is normal or rather slow, not noticeably varied. Together with the medium length of pauses the general tempo may be marked as moderate.

The rhythm may be characterized as systematic, properly organized,

interpausal stretches have a marked tendency towards the rhythmic isochrony.