Reading 2 Stylistic devices

The use of various stylistic devices, both lexical and syntactical, is largely traditional. Editorials abound in metaphors and epithets, e.g., international climate, a price explosion, a price spiral, a spectacular sight, an outrageous act, brutal rule, an astounding statement, crazy policies. Genuine stylistic means are frequently used help the writer to bring his idea home to the reader through the associations that genuine imagery arouses: "So if the result of the visit is the burying of the cold war, the only mourners will be the arms manufacturers who profit from it. The ordinary people will dance on the grave."

Practically any stylistic device may be found in editorial writing, and when aptly used, such devices prove to be a powerful means of appraisal, of expressing a personal attitude to the matter in hand, of exercising the necessary emotional effect on the reader. The most widely used devices include alliteration, deliberately misspelt words for effect (Gawd for God), puns (play on words, often with double meaning) parody (an imitation of a well-known phrase or saying that is somehow distorted or changed), rhyming (Pix nix flix in stix), exclamations (Gosh!)

Satirical effect is frequently achieved by the use of irony, breaking-up of set expressions, the stylistic use of word-building, by using allusions, etc. Two types of allusions can be distinguished in newspaper article writing: (a) allusions to political and other facts of the day which are indispensable and have no stylistic value, and (b) historical, literary and biblical allusions which are often used to create a specific stylistic effect, largely — satirical.

The emotional force of expression in the editorial is often enhanced by the use of various syntactical stylistic devices. Some editorials abound in parallel constructions, various types of repetition, rhetorical questions and other ' syntactical stylistic means.

Different papers vary in degree of emotional coloring and stylistic originality of expression. While these qualities are typical enough of the "popular" newspapers (those with large circulations), such as The Daily Minor and The Daily Mail, the so-called "quality papers", as The Times and The Guardian, make rather a sparing use of the expressive and stylistic means of the language.

Yet, the role of expressive language means and stylistic devices in the newspaper writing should not be overestimated. They stand out against the essentially neutral background. Original forms of expression and fresh genuine stylistic means are comparatively rare in newspaper articles, editorials included.

Specific compositional design of newspaper articles

Newspaper articles are divided into numerous paragraphs (practically each sentence is a separate paragraph). Several paragraphs usually make one main idea clear:

MIGRATION from the North to the South is not to blame for the majority of new homes needed in the South-East, a report by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation said yesterday.

Instead it shows that movement from London, a bigger than expected increase in the population and incomers from abroad have brought regions nearest the capital under pressure to extend.

The report concludes that even if there is the “urban renaissance” in the North and Midlands that the Government hopes for, there will be large increases in population in the South.

(The Daily Telegraph)

Usually presentation of information follows the principle of inverted pyramid: the most important items are presented first. Information is concentrated in easily-accessible “chunks”, but with the risk of overloading headlines with copious data (misleading).

Orbital pattern: most clauses in the text refer back directly to the headline and the lead.

Creation of interpersonal relations between the author and the reader by using pronoun “you” and questions (including rhetorical) to create a kind of dialogue.

The specific conditions of newspaper publication, the restrictions of time and space, have left a mark on newspaper English. For more than a century writers and linguists have been vigorously attacking newspaper English. Yet this is one of the forms of the English literary language characterized — as any other style — by a definite communicative aim and its own language means.

Exercise 1. Answer the questions:

1. Do you know the difference between metaphor and comparison? And between metaphor and metonymy?

2. Is alliteration more popular in English or Russian media? Why?

3. What stylistic devices are more typical for tabloids than for broadsheets?

4. Can you give any examples of puns (in English or Russian)?

5. Why do parodies produce a humorous effect?

6. What compositional devices do journalists usually employ?

Exercise 2. Choose the best word:

1. _____________ serves the function of creating the central theme of the story that different parts of it refer to all the time. 

1. Inverted pyramid B) orbital pattern C) encapsulation of information

1. The emotional expressive force of stylistic devices _____________ the impression produced by an article.

1. Encapsulates B) generalizes C) enhances

3.Many readers enjoy _____________, because they associate them with the familiar books, songs, or film characters.

1. Allusions B) on-air personalities C) puns

4. If you are going to write a good news story, you should find the way to cover _____________.

A) Human interest B) 5 Wh-questions C) Orbital pattern

5. Reporters often use clichés, but really _____________ devices are not so frequent.

A) Genuine B) expressive C) gerundial

6. When a word is _____________ , we can guess it is done in order to grab readers’ attention.

A) Omitted B) Misspelt C) Rhymed

7. A reporter who writes stories for _____________, should use more sensational style of writing.

A) Broadsheets B) Tabloids C) Websites