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

2. 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.

3. 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.

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

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

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

7. 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

8. 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.”

9. 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).

10. 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.”

11. 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.”

12. 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!