Introduction to

Stylistics
What is stylistic?
According to Lecercle,
nobody has ever really
known what the
term ‘stylistics’ means,
and in any case, hardly
anyone seems to care
(Lecercle 1993:14).
Modern stylistics (21st Century)
● It is taught and studied in university language, literature, and
linguistics departments all around the world.
● The number of specialized book-length publications, research
journals, international conferences and symposia, and scholarly
organizations reflects stylistics' strong academic prominence.
● Theories of speech, culture, and society complement and allow
stylistic approaches.
● Feminist stylistics, cognitive stylistics, and discourse stylistics, to
mention a few, are well-established schools of modern stylistics
that have been supported by discoveries from feminist theory,
cognitive psychology, and discourse analysis, respectively.
Modern stylistics (21st Century)
● Stylistics has also become a highly valued approach in language
teaching and learning, and stylistics in its ‘pedagogical' aspect,
with its close attention to the system's vast resources, takes
pride of place in the linguistic Armory of second language
learners.
● Stylistics is a form of literary interpretation in which
language takes precedence over place.
● The text's functional importance as discourse serves as a portal
to its interpretation.
Modern stylistics (21st Century)
● Stylistic interpretation and to explain why various forms of
meaning are feasible for the analyst.
● The first is that linguistic innovation and originality should not be
limited to literary writing. Many kinds of discourse (commercial,
journalism, popular music – even casual conversation) often
exhibit a high degree of stylistic dexterity, so that it would be
incorrect to regard dexterity in language usage as unique to
canonical literature.
Modern stylistics (21st Century)
● The second limitation is that stylistic analysis approaches are
used to gain insights into language structure and function as well
as to comprehend literary texts.
● The stylistic analysis that accrues is more thorough and
context-sensitive the more complete and context-sensitive the
description of language is.
The purpose of stylistics

★ Stylistics is the study of language, and in particular, the

English language, specifically to investigate linguistic
inventiveness.

★ It teaches us about language's "rules" because it often

examines texts in which those rules are twisted,
distended, or stretched beyond their breaking point.
The three Rs principle:

➔ Stylistic analysis should be rigorous - To argue

for a rigorous stylistic technique, one must first
provide a clear framework for analysis.
The three Rs principle:

➔ Stylistic analysis should be retrievable - To prove

that a stylistic approach is retrievable, one must first
demonstrate that the analysis is organized using
specific words and criteria, the meanings of which
are agreed upon by other stylistic students.
The three Rs principle:

➔ Stylistic analysis should be replicable - To suggest that

a style analysis aims to be repeatable does not mean that
we should all attempt to imitate one another's work. It
simply implies that the approaches should be clear
enough for other stylisticians to check them out, either by
testing them on the same text or by applying them to
different texts.
Stylistics and level of language

In its widest sense, language is a complex network of

levels, layers, and linkages, rather than a disorganized
mass of sounds and symbols. As a result, each statement
or piece of writing is divided into many levels of language.
Stylistics and level of language
Stylistics and level of language

➢ Phonology; phonetics: The sound of spoken

language; the way words are pronounced.
➢ Graphology: The patterns of written language;
the shape of language on the page.
➢ Morphology: The way words are constructed;
words and their constituent structures.
Stylistics and level of language

➢ Syntax; grammar: The way words combine with other

words to form phrases and sentences.
➢ Lexical analysis; lexicology: The words we use; the
vocabulary of a language.
➢ Semantics: The meaning of words and sentences.
➢ Pragmatics; discourse analysis: The way words and
sentences are used in everyday situations; the meaning
of language in context.
Stylistics and level of language

Because of the interdependence of the levels and

layers described above, there is no ‘natural' beginning
place for a stylistic study, therefore we must be cautious
about whatever parts of language we choose to focus
on.
The interaction between levels is essential: one level
may complement, parallelize, or even clash with another.
Literary Language

On the appearance, contemporary stylistics'

opposition to a separate form of "literary language"
appears to be a sarcastic shot at the many literary critics
who think the opposite: that not only does a literary
language exist, but that literature can be characterized
by its use of this particular language.
Literary Language

The goal is not to divide key features of literary style

into a separate category, but rather to seek for the
origins of this style in the entirety of speech.
The absence of a defined set of linguistic standards
within which a writer must work is an indication of
language creativity, not the existence of a fixed set of
linguistic principles within which a writer must work.
Literary Language

To argue for the presence of a unique literary register is

essentially to advocate for a cliché, because it would entail
confining artistic expression to a set of formulaic
prescriptions.
The argument concerning literary language is more
ideological than methodological. To assert that literary
language is unique, that it can be separated from the
ordinary or conventional in conversation, is to take it away
from the practice of stylistics.
5 Points to consider...

1. Keep an open mind and don't rely solely on your own

views.
2. Provide a brief background of the text to give an overview
to the readers.
★ Consider the level of language used.
3. Instead of copying from other works, use them as a source
of inspiration.
4. Analize from the pivotal behavior observe on the text.
5. Convey a relevant interpretation to the audience that
includes creative yet significant values.