5. Scientific and official document style

The scientific and official document styles are two formal functional styles of language. They aim to convey information clearly, precisely, and impersonally. While scientific style focuses on knowledge creation and explanation, official style centers on regulation, agreement, and standardized documentation in legal, diplomatic, and business contexts.

Main Body: The official document style includes legal, business, military, and diplomatic texts. Its main purpose is to state rules or reach agreements. It uses formal, stereotyped expressions (e.g., hereby, thereto) and vocabulary with Latin and French origins (status quo, persona non grata). Grammar features include long, complex sentences, passive voice, and impersonal constructions. Business letters follow a set structure: heading, address, salutation, body, closing, and signature. Precision, clarity, and avoidance of ambiguity are essential.

The scientific prose style is used in academic texts and research. It has three substyles: humanitarian sciences, exact sciences, and popular science. Its primary goal is to present and explain facts and theories objectively. Key features include logical coherence, unemotional tone, and use of terminology in its primary meaning. Scientific texts often use passive constructions and established syntactic patterns such as postulatory, formulative, and argumentative structures. Humanities may include more personal and expressive elements, while popular science sometimes uses emotive language and colloquial elements to engage readers.

In summary, both scientific and official styles are highly formal and structured, aiming for clarity and objectivity. They use specific vocabulary, grammar, and composition to fulfill their communicative goals—whether it's establishing legal agreements or explaining scientific ideas. Understanding their features is key to interpreting or producing formal, informative texts.

6. Stratification of the English vocabulary

The English vocabulary is not a chaotic collection of words, but a structured system. From a stylistic perspective, it is divided into three main layers: literary, neutral, and colloquial. These layers differ in tone, usage, and emotional colouring, and each plays a specific role in communication.

Main Body: Neutral vocabulary is the core of the language. These words are free of stylistic colouring and used in all contexts, both spoken and written. They form the basis for polysemy and synonymy and are highly stable.

Literary vocabulary is used in formal writing and polished speech. It includes common literary words, terms, poetic and archaic words, foreignisms, and literary coinages. These words are more bookish and emotionally restrained.

Colloquial vocabulary, on the other hand, is more spontaneous and emotionally coloured. It is used in everyday informal speech and includes slang, jargonisms, professionalisms, dialectal expressions, vulgarisms, and colloquial coinages.

Only common literary, common colloquial, and neutral words belong to Standard English Vocabulary. The other subgroups are stylistically marked.

Synonyms often help us see stylistic differences clearly. For example:

• Father (neutral), parent (literary), daddy (colloquial);

• Begin (neutral), commence (literary), get going (colloquial).

Some colloquial words like teenager, hippie, or pro (professional) are slowly becoming neutral due to widespread use.

Colloquial expressions such as just a bit, to be up to something, or How’s life treating you? are typical in informal conversation.

At the same time, formal expressions like in accordance with, to lend assistance, or responsibility rests with may sound bookish in speech and add a stylistic effect when used intentionally.

In sum, the stratification of English vocabulary reflects the richness and flexibility of the language. While neutral words ensure clarity, literary and colloquial layers provide stylistic variation. Understanding their interaction is essential for effective and expressive communication.