1. The problem of style and stylistics

The main problems here are the object of research in this field of knowledge and the term «style» which is understood in different ways. The word «style» is derived from the Latin «stilus» which means «a short stick for writing». The term is used to denote the special choice of words by this or that writer, types of texts, use of language means as well as some other aspects. There are many ideas of what «style» and «Stylistics» are and what problems this branch of linguistics should touch upon. 

Different definitions of style by Foreign scholars

• L. Bloomfield gave quite a general definition and wrote that style was a selection of non-distinctive features of language. 

• While S. Chatman in his turn considered style to be a product of individual choices and patterns of choices among linguistic possibilities. 

• W. Winter`s idea was that a style formed the inventory of optional features of the language.

Different definitions of style by Russian academics

• V. Vinogradov spoke about style as a socially recognized and functionally conditioned united totality of the ways of using, selecting and combining the means of lingual intercourse in the sphere of one national language or another.

• I. Galperin defined style «as a system of interrelated language means which serves a definite aim of communication»

• Y. Skrebnev defined style as «the set of specific features of a text type or a specific text». He also wrote that «style is what differentiates a text from all other texts»

Galperin defines an individual style as «a unique combination of language units and stylistic devices peculiar to a given writer, which makes the writer`s works or even utterances easily recognizable»

Different approaches to the problem of style itself involve some difficulties in distinguishing the object of stylistics as a branch of linguistics.

I. Arnold defines stylistics in the following way «Stylistics is a branch of linguistics that studies the principles and the effect of choice and usage of lexical, phonetic, grammatical and general linguistic means for transmission of ideas and emotions under different circumstances of communication»

N. Razinkina insists on the fact that the object of stylistics is the functional style as a phenomenon and consequently different functional styles of the language.

I. Galperin thinks that stylistics deals with two independent tasks:

1. the investigation of the inventory of special language media which by their ontological features secure the desirable effect of the utterance;

2. certain types of texts which due to the choice and arrangement of language means are distinguished by the pragmatic aspect of communication 

Y. Skrebnev says that the scope of stylistics covers:

1. the aesthetic function of the language;

2. expressive means and stylistic devices in language;

3. synonymous ways of rendering one and the same idea;

4. emotional coloring;

5. a system of special devices called stylistic devices;

6. separate systems of the literary language which are called styles;

7. the interrelation between language and thought;

8. the individual manner of an author in making use of the language. 

Speaking about stylistics we speak about stylistics of the language and stylistics of speech. The former studies the features of the language system or inherent stylistic properties of language (functional styles, expressive means). The latter deals with stylistic properties which appear in real texts (adherent properties) and realization of different devices in them. E.g., The word maiden is an archaic word of poetic diction and speaking about it we deal with the scope of language stylistics. If the word is used today in a conversation of modern people or characters in a book, we analyze its usage in the context and deal with the sphere of stylistics of speech.