- •Preface
- •1.1. Problems of stylistic research
- •1.1. Problems of stylistic research
- •1.2. Stylistics of language and speech
- •1.3. Types of stylistic research and branches of stylistics
- •1.4. Stylistics and other linguistic disciplines
- •1.5. Stylistic neutrality and stylistic colouring
- •1.6. Stylistic function notion
- •1.6. Stylistic function notion
- •1.6. Stylistic function notion
- •2.1. Expressive means and stylistic devices
- •2.2. Different classifications of expressive means
- •2.2.1- Hellenistic Roman rhetoric system
- •2.2.2. Stylistic theory and classification of expresssive means by g. Leech
- •2.2.4. Classification of expressive means and stylistic devices by y. M.Skrebnev
- •3.1. The theory of grammatical gradation.
- •3.2. Grammatical metaphor and types of grammatical transposition
- •3.3. Morphological stylistics.
- •3.3.2. The article and its stylistic potential
- •3.3.3. The stylistic power of the pronoun
- •3.3.4. The adjective and its stylistic functions
- •3.3.5. The verb and its stylistic properties
- •3.4. Stylistic syntax
- •3.4. Stylistic syntax
- •3.4. Stylistic syntax
- •4.1. The notion of style in functional stylistics
- •4.1. The notion of style in functional stylistics
- •4.2. Correlation of style, norm and function in the language
- •I.V.Arnold presents these relations as a system of oppositions:
- •4.3. Language varieties:
- •4.4. Ал overview of functional style systems
- •1. The Belles-Lettres Style:
- •2. Publicist Style:
- •3. Newspaper Style:
- •1. Literary or Bookish Style:
- •2. PVee («Colloquial») Style:
- •1. Colloquial Styles:
- •4.5. Distinctive linguistic features of the major functional styles of English
- •4.5.1. Literary colloquial style
- •4.5.2. Familiar colloquial style
- •4.5.3. Publicist (media) style
- •4.5.4. The style of official documents
- •4.5.5. Scientific/academic style
- •5.1. Stylistics of the author and of the reader. The notions of encoding and decoding
- •5.2. Essential concepts of decoding stylistic analysis and types of foregrounding
- •5.2.1. Convergence
- •5.2.2. Defeated expectancy
- •5.2.3. Coupling
- •5.2.4. Semantic field
- •5.2.5. Semi-marked structures
4.4. Ал overview of functional style systems
As has been mentioned before there are a great many classifications of language varieties that are called sublanguages, substyles, registers and functional styles that use various criteria for their definition and categorisation. The term generally accepted by most Russian scholars
Chapter 4. The Theory of Functional Styles I
is functional styles. It is also used in this course. A few classifications of the functional styles in modern English will be considered in thi chapter.
Books by I. R. Galperin on English Stylistics (1958, 1971, 1977) are among most acknowledged sources of stylistic research in this country.
Galperin distinguishes 5 functional styles and suggests their subdivision into substyles in modern English according to the following scheme:
1. The Belles-Lettres Style:
poetry;
emotive prose;
the language of the drama.
2. Publicist Style:
oratory and speeches;
the essay;
articles.
3. Newspaper Style:
brief news items;
headlines;
advertisements and announcements;
the editorial.
Scientific Prose Style.
The Style of Official documents:
business documents;
legal documents;
4.4. An overview of functional style systems
the language of diplomacy;
military documents.
Prof. Galperin differs from many other scholars in his views on functional styles because he includes in his classification only the written variety of the language. In his opinion style is the result of creative activity of the writer who consciously and deliberately selects language means that create style. Colloquial speech, according to him, by its very nature will not lend itself to careful selection of linguistic features and there is no stylistic intention expressed on the part of the speaker. At the same time his classification contains such varieties of publicist style as oratory and speeches. What he actually means is probably not so much the spoken variety of the language but spontaneous colloquial speech, a viewpoint which nevertheless seems to give ground for debate. As we pointed out in sections two and three of this chapter individual speech, oral variety included, is always marked by stylistic features that show the speaker's educational, social and professional background. Moreover we always assume some socially determined role and consciously choose appropriate language means to perform it and achieve the aim of communication.
Scholars' views vary on some other items of this classification. There is no unanimity about the belles-lettres style. In fact Galperin's position is not shared by the majority. This notion comes under criticism because it seems rather artificial especially in reference to modern prose. It is certainly true that many works of fiction may contain emotionally coloured passages of emotive writing that are marked by special image-creating devices, such as tropes and figures of speech. These are typically found in the author's narrative, lyrical digressions, expositions, descriptions of nature or reflections on the characters' emotional or mental state.
Chapter 4. The Theory of Functional Styles
At the same time many writers give an account of external events, social life and reproduce their characters' direct speech. Sometimes they quote extracts from legal documents, newspapers items, advertisements, slogans, headlines, e. g. K. Vonnegut, J. Dos Passos, etc. which do not belong to belles-lettres style in its traditional meaning.
As a matter of fact, in modern works of fiction we may encounter practically any functional speech type imaginable. So most other classifications do not distinguish the language of fiction as a separate style.
In 1960 the book «Stylistics of the English Language» by M. D. Kuz-netz and Y. M. Skrebnev appeared. The book was a kind of brief outline of stylistic problems. The styles and their varieties distinguished by these authors included: