Stylistics of the English Language Lecture 5 Stylistic Classification of the English Vocabulary

Main Layers of Word-stock The word-stock (словарный запас) of the English language is divided into three main layers: literary, neutral and colloquial. The common property, which unites different groups of words within the layer, may be called its aspect.

Aspect The aspect of the literary layer is its markedly bookish character. It makes this layer more or less stable. The aspect of the colloquial layer is its lively spoken character. It makes it unstable, fleeting. The aspect of the neutral layer is its universal character. This layer is the most stable of all, because it is unrestricted in use, it can be employed in all styles of language and in all spheres of human activity.

Relations btw the Layers COLLLOQUIAL NEUTRAL LITERARY DADDY FATHER PARENT GO ON CONTINUE PROCEED CHAP FELLOW ASSOCIATE

Stylistic Difference Emotional tension connoted in a word Sphere of application Degree of quality denoted

Ranges Inside the Layers UPPER ___________________________ LITERARY LOWER ↕ NEUTRAL ↕ UPPER COLLOQUIAL _______________________

Groups Inside the Literary Layer Common Literary Terms (true-to-life atmosphere, humorous effect) Barbarisms and foreign words (local coloring, the idea of the foreign origin or cultural and educational status of the personage) Archaisms: archaisms proper, historical words, morphological archaisms (the atmosphere of antiquity, in inappropriate surroundings can cause humorous effect. Poetic words (a lofty poetic coloring) Literary coinages and nonce words (the effect of laconism, implication (a lilliput) or to create the atmosphere of witty humor and satire

Groups Inside the Literary Layer (examples) Poetic words: “She never cried, she softly wept. She never slept, she slumbered, She never ate and rarely dined, Her tongue found sweetmeats sour. She never guessed, but oft divined The secrets of a flower.” (John Updike “The Poetess”) Nonce-words: “I am not just talented. I'm geniused.”

Groups Inside the Colloquial Layer Common colloquial Slang (mainly in dialogue and serves to create speech characteristics of personages) Professional and social jargonisms (as speech-characterization means show vocation, education, breeding, environment and even the psychology of a personage) Vulgarisms: expletives, swear-words, obscene words (emotionally strongly charged and can be used for speech-characterizationDialectal words ) (to indicate the origin, the educational and cultural level of the speaker).

Groups Inside the Colloquial Layer (an example) From “By Courier” O'Henry: “Tell her I am on my way to the station, to leave for San Francisco, where I shall join that Alaska moose hunting expedition. Tell her that, since she has commanded me neither to speak nor to write to her, I take this means of making one last appeal to her sense of justice, for the sake of what has been. Tell her that to condemn and discard one who has not deserved such treatment, without giving him her reason or a chance to explain its contrary to her nature as I believe it to be.”

Groups Inside the Colloquial Layer (an example) From “By Courier” O'Henry: In the slang form: “He told me to tell yer he's got his collars and cuffs in dat grip for a scoot clean out to 'Frisco. Den he's goin' to shoot snowbirds in de Klondike. He says yer told him to send 'round no more pink notes nor come hangin' over de garden gate, and he takes dis mean of putting yer wise. He says yer referred to him lake a has been, and never give him no chance to kick at de decision. He says yer swiled him and never said why.”

The meaning of these words is metaphorically shifted! Slang Slang is the language of a highly colloquial style considered as below the level of standard educated speech and consisting either of new words or of current words employed in some special sense. The meaning of these words is metaphorically shifted!