Lecture 2.

Stylistic Classification of the English Language

Types and forms of speech
The functioning of the literary language in various spheres of human activity and with
different aims of communication has resulted in its differentiation. This differentiation is
predetermined by two distinct factors, namely, the actual situation in which the language is being
used and the aim of the communication.
The actual situation of the communication has evolved two varieties of language: the
spoken and the written. The spoken is primary and the written is secondary. Each of these varieties
has developed its own features and qualities which in many ways may be regarded as opposed to each other.
The situation in which the spoken variety of language is used and in which it develops, can
be described concisely as the presence of an interlocutor. The written variety presupposes the
absence of an interlocutor.
The spoken language is maintained in the form of a dialogue - the written in the form of a
monologue.
The spoken language has a considerable advantage over the written, in that the into play.
This is a powerful means of modulating the utterance, as are all kinds of gestures, which together
with the intonation, give additional information. Indeed, the rise and fall of the voice, whether the
utterance is shouted, whispered and expressed in some other tone of voice all have an effect on
the melody of the utterance and consequently on its general meaning.
The word stock of the English language is divided into three main layers:
1)The literary layer, 2) the neutral layer and 3) the colloquial layer.
The literary vocabulary consists of the following groups of words:
1.common literary; 2. terms and learned words; 3. poetic words; 4.archaic words; 5. barbarisms
and foreign words; 6. literary coinages including nonce-words.
The colloquial vocabulary falls into the following groups: 1.common colloquial words; 2.
Slang; 3. jargonisms; 4. professional words; 5. dialectal words; 6. vulgar words; 7. colloquial
coinages.
The common literary, neutral and common colloquial words are grouped under the term
STANDART ENGLISH VOCABULARY.
THE LITERARY VOCABULARY
а) Terms
Terms are generally associated with a definite branch of science and therefore with a series of
other terms belonging to that particular branch of science. Terms are characterized by a tendency
to be monosemantic.
Terms are mostly used in special works dealing with the notion of some branch of science.
Therefore it may be said that they belong to the scientific style. But they may appear in other
styles - in newspaper style, in publicistic style, in belle-lettres style and practically in other
existing styles. But their function in this case changes. The function is either to indicate the
technical peculiarities of the subject dealt with, or to make some referance to the occupation of a
character whose language would naturally contain special words and expressions. That is, they no
longer fulfill their basic function, that of bearing an exact reference to a given notion or concept.
 A term has a stylistic function when it is used to create the atmosphere or to characterize a
person through his calling.
Sometimes terms are used in a satirical function.
e.g. "Green eyes, fair skin, pretty figure, famous frontal development" (the girl's description)
The words "frontal", "development" have a terminological aspect. Bun being paired, their
loose their common aspect & become purely terminological. The combination becomes an
anatomical term signifying “breast”. But being preceded by the word “famous” it took the
meaning: “excellent, capital ”, the whole expression becomes satirical.
b) Poetic & Highly Literary Words
Poetic words are used primarily in poetry. They may be likened to terms in more than one
way. First of all they belong to a definite style of language & perform in it their direct function. If
encountered in another style of speech, they assume a new function, mainly satirical.
Poetic language has special means of communication, і.e. rhythmical arrangement, some
syntactical peculiarities & certain number of special words. The special poetic vocabulary has a
marked tendency to detach itself from the common literary word stock & assume a special
significance. Poetic words claim to be of higher rank. Poetic words and expressions have the
function of maintaining the special elevated atmosphere of poetry.
Poetic words in the English language do not present a homogeneous group: they include
archaic words & forms.
It must be remembered though, that not all English poetry makes use of "poeticisms or poetical terms", as
they might be named.
Poetic words are not freely built in contrast to neutral, colloquial & common literary
words, or terms. The commonest means is by compounding, the use of contractions instead of the
full one.
In modern English poetry there is a strong tendency to use words in strange combinations.
It manifests itself in the coinage of new words &, most of all, in combining old & familiar words
in a way that hinders understanding & forces the reader to stop & try to decipher the message so
encoded.
e.g." and time yet for a hundred indecisions."
"he danced his did."
"a grief ago."