The degree of preparedness

Intonational Styles

The factors that determine the choice of the intonational style are the following:

* the aim of communication – the style-forming factor

The other factors are called style-modifying factors:

* the speaker’s attitude

* the form of communication

* the degree of formality

* the degree of preparedness

It should be mentioned that all these factors are interdependent and interconnected.

The aim of communication

This is the general strategy of the speaker. When we speak, we have a variety of aims: to inform, to instruct, to convince, to advertise etc. In each particular case we select intonation that is most effective. So the aim of communication determines the choice of intonation means, that’s why it is style-forming.

The speaker’s attitude

Oral speech reflects a variety of attitudes and emotions of the speaker to the listener, to the situation, to the subject matter. Information varieties are as numerous as varieties of attitudes and emotions, e.g.: the speaker can be indifferent, frank, etc.

The form of communication

According to the form of communication we distinguish monologs and dialogs. A monolog is speaking of one individual, e.g.: public speaking. A dialog presupposes the participation of the listener. This is two-sided interaction. Monologs are generally more extended and are characterized by more phonetic, grammatical and lexical cohesion (связность).

The degree of formality

It reflects social roles and relationships between the participants. In formal situations the speaker tries to make his speech more distinct and precise, while informal situations are characterized by more rapid and careless speech.

The degree of preparedness

According to the degree of preparedness, we distinguish spontaneous speech (verbal realization of speech is simultaneous to the formation of the idea in the speaker’s mind), half-prepared speech, e.g. public speaking, and fully prepared speech (written and rehearsed in advance).

All these factors determine the choice of particular intonation means which can be attributed to a certain intonational style.

There exist different classifications of intonation styles (phonostyles), because in working out these classifications scholars take into consideration different factors as most important ones.

For example, Дубовский discriminates five styles according to the degree of formality:

* Informal-ordinary

* Formal-neutral

* Formal-official

* Informal-familiar

* Declamatory

We are going to take into consideration the following classification:

# Conversational

# Informational

# Academic

# Declamatory

# Publicistic

The basis for this classification is the aim of communication. The other factors (style-modifying) are taken into account as well. With regard to this classification we can give the definition of the intonational style:

Intonational style is a system of into-related intonational means which is used in a social sphere and serves a definite aim of communication.

In simpler words, it means a set of particular prosodic features that are chosen by the speaker under the influence of extra-linguistic factors. Prosodic features include: intonation patterns, tempo / rate + pauses, and loudness.

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