Stylistic differentiation of the English vocabulary.

According to Prof. I.R. Galperin the English vocabulary is divided into neutral, literary and colloquial strata.

I. Literary stratum of words

1. Archaisms : anon – at once, haply– perhaps, befall – happen. Historical words (knight, spear, lance). Poetic words (woe – sorrow, hapless – unlucky, staunch – firm, harken – hear). Morphological or partial archaisms (speaketh, cometh, wrought, brethren).

The main stylistic function of archaisms is to recreate the atmosphere of antiquity. Not seldom archaisms are intentionally used by the writer to cause humorous effect.

2. Barbarisms and foreign words.

They are used mainly to supply the narrated events with the proper local colouring and to convey the idea of the foreign origin or cultural and educational status of the personage.

3. Terms.

Their main stylistic function is to create the true–to–life atmosphere of the narration but also may be used with a parodying function.

4. Neologisms (stylistically coloured individual neologisms or occasional words, which have validity only for the given context).

Their major stylistic functions are the creation of the laconism or witty humour and satire.

II. Colloquial stratum of words.

1. Slang (plus phraseology).

Occurs mainly in dialogues and serves to create speech characteristics of personages.

2. Vulgarisms: hackneyed (cf. Russ. “чертовски “, or Engl. “devil”) and proper.

The function of hackneyed ones is to show mere emotions as through long usage they have lost their abusive character. The function of proper ones is to insult and humiliate the addressee of the remark, or to convey the speaker’s highly negative evaluation of the object in question.

3. Jargonisms: professional (professionalisms) and social.

Professionalisms circulate within communities joined by professional interests and are emotive synonyms to terms. Social ones can be found within groups characterized by social integrity, they are emotive synonyms to neutral words and conceal or disguise the meaning of the expressed concept.

4. Dialectal words.

They are used to indicate the origin of personages. Their number also indicates the educational and emotional level of the speaker.

Exercises.

Literary stratum of words

I. State the type and the functions of archaisms:

a) If manners maketh man, then manner and grooming maketh poodle. (Steinbeck)

b) Anthony… clapped him affectionately on the back. “You’re a real knight–errant, Jimmy,” he said. (Christie)

c) I was surprised to see Heathcliff there also. He stood by the fire, his back towards me, just finishing a stormy scene to poor Zillah, who ever and anon interrupted her labour to pluck up the corner of her apron, and heave an indignant groan… (E.Brontë)

d) “He of the iron garment,” said Daigety, entering, “is bounden unto you, MacEagh, and this noble lord shall be bounden also.” (W.Scott)

II. Give the English equivalents, state the origin and stylistic purpose of barbarisms and foreign words:

a) “Tyree, you got half of the profits!” Dr. Bruce shouted. “You’re my de facto partner.”

“What that de facto mean, Doc?..” “Papa, it means you a partner in fact and in law,” Fishbelly told him. (Wright)

b) And now the roof had fallen in on him. The first shock was over, the dust had settled and he could now see that his whole life was kaput. (J.Braine)

c) Then, of course, there ought to be one or two outsiders – just to give the thing a bona fide appearance. I and Eileen could see to that – young people, uncritical, and with no idea of politics. (Christie)

d) When Danny came home from the army he learned that he was an heir and owner of property. The viejo, that is the grandfather, had died leaving Danny the two small houses on the Tortilla Flat. (Steinbeck)