Lexical Level of

Stylistic Analysis
JESSABEL P. CATABAY
ABEL III-B
One of the goals of the stylistic
analysis is to help the readers in
making a meaningful interpretation
of the text (Sharma, 2019).
Definition
LEXICAL is relating to words or the
vocabulary of a language as
distinguished from its grammar and
construction.
Merriam-Webster Dictionary
Definition
According to the level of lexis, attention
is given to such feature as the nature of
vocabulary, whether simple or complex,
formal or colloquial, descriptive or
evaluative, and general or specific.
(Dr. Babiker & Dr. Ahmad, 2023)
Lexical level means analyzing vocabulary
or diction such as vocabulary items, parts
of speech of words (of the major subjects
mentioned), and the tone used such as
words of tenderness and cruelty.
 Variables or factors in Lexical
level of Stylistic Analysis
- vocabulary
- diction
- parts of speech of words
(repeatedly used)
- tone used in the text
Vocabulary
- the words used in the text
- along with the study of their meaning
Vocabulary
For instance, reading a book about business
Their vocabulary will include: debit, credit,
loan, ...
Diction
- the choice of words of the writer

• simple or complex language

• formal or colloquial
• general or specific
• modern or old-fashioned
 Diction
SIMPLE OR COMPLEX LANGUAGE
The word "use" and "utililize" are synonyms, but
the latter is considered basic, while the former is
considered the more advanced alternative

• They used all available funds.

• They utilized all available funds.
 Diction
SIMPLE OR COMPLEX LANGUAGE
• Dogs are direct descendants of wolves.
• Canis familiaris are direct descendants of canis
lupus.

WHICH IS MORE FAMILIAR TO YOU?

 Diction
FORMAL/INFORMAL/COLLOQUIAL LANGUAGE
• You are a backstabber!
• You're a traitor.
• You're so plastic.

Angry - mad - ticked

 Diction
GENERAL OR SPECIFIC LANGUAGE
• I support sports teams. I like this job. I want to
play a videogame on Saturday.
• I support Gilas Pilipinas. I like being a dentist. I
want to play PUBG on Saturday.
 Diction
MODERN OR OLD-FASHIONED

• You look dainty today.

• You look pretty and feminine today.

Thy, thou, art

Diction
The diction of a writer varies and depends on
the target audience, on the desired effects, or
on the writers themselves.
Harry - yer a wizard.
(Hagrid) - Lexical function is for the
emphasis on the regional accent
 PARTS OF SPEECH OF WORDS
(used repeatedly or major subjects)
- noun
- verb
- adjective
- adverb
- pronoun
 TONE OF THE TEXT
- the attitude that the character in a
text shows
• objective/subjective
• logical or emotional
• intimate or distant
• serious or humurous
 TONE OF THE TEXT
OBJECTIVE/SUBJECTIVE
• It is raining.
• I love the rain!
• This is the house we live in.
• This is our home.
 TONE OF THE TEXT
LOGICAL/EMOTIONAL
• This apartment is dirty with rats
running but it have us shelter for a year .
• This apartment might be full of dirt
and rats running around but this has
become our own very home for a year.
 TONE OF THE TEXT
INTIMATE OR DISTANT
• We are lovers, we are husband and
wife.
• We are husband and wife, in paper.
 TONE OF THE TEXT
SERIOUS OR HUMUROUS
• This is getting ridiculous. Stop. Now!
• You and I will be friends forever
because at this point, you know too
much.
CONCLUSION
Lexical level of stylistic analysis is
focused on the words used in the
language. It focuses merely on the text
and does not include the writer's
background.
Reference
Levels of stylistic analysis - notes in stylistic and discourse development
levels of stylistic. Studocu. (n.d.).
https://www.studocu.com/ph/document/university-of-southern-
mindanao/stylistic-and-discourse-development/levels-of-stylistic-
analysis/31023063
Sharma, P. 2019. Stylistics Study in Literature and Language.
Dr. Babiker. Dr. Ahmad. 2023. Linguistic Stylistic Analysis of Lexical aall
Apart.