Neutral, common literary and common colloquial vocabulary

Neutral words, which form the bulk of the English vocabulary, are used in both literary and colloquial language. Neutral words are the main source of synonymy and polysemy. It is the neutral stock of words that is so far prolific in the production of new meanings. Common literary words are chiefly used in writing and in polished speech. Common colloquial vocabulary overlaps into the standard English vocabulary and is therefore to be considered part of it. It borders both on the neutral vocabulary and on the special colloquial vocabulary, which falls out of the standard English altogether. The stylistic function of the different strata of the English vocabulary depends not so much on the inner qualities of each of the groups, as on their interaction when they are opposed to one another.

Antonomasia

Antonomasia is a stylistic device based on the interaction of logical and nominal meanings of the same word. The word derives from the Greek verb meaning "to name differently", "to call by a new name ". One of the interacting meanings exists independently of the context, the other one is born within the context. Two types of antonomasia: 1) That based on the interaction between the nominal and contextual logical meanings. 2) That based on the interaction between the logical and contextual nominal meanings. To the first group we shall refer those cases in which a proper noun is used for a common noun. This type of antonomasia is usually trite for writer repeats the well-known, often-mentioned facts.. (The use of a Solomon to stand for "a wise man", Casanova for "a lover"). In the second type of antonomasia any common noun can be used as a common name. It is always original. In such cases the person’s name serves his first characteristics. ("The little corporal" for Napoleon I, "The Iron Lady" for Margaret Thatcher, "The Bard" for William Shakespeare). Antonomasia is created mainly by nouns, more seldom by attributive combinations (as in “Dr.Fresh Air”) or phrases (as in “Mr.What’s-his-name’).

23. Functional Styles of the English Language

Functional styles (FS) are the subsystems of language, each subsystem having its own peculiar features in what concern vocabulary means, syntactical constructions, and even phonetics. The appearance and existence of FS is connected with the specific conditions of communication in different spheres of human life. FS differ not only by the possibility or impossibility of using some elements but also due to the frequency of their usage. For example, some terms can appear in the colloquial style but the possibility of its appearance is quite different form the possibility to meet it in an example of scientific style.A functional style should be regarded as the product of a certain concrete task set by the sender of the message. Functional styles appear mainly in the literary standard of the language. Selection, or deliberate choice of language, and the ways the chosen elements are treated are the main distinctive features of individual style. Individual style is a unique combination of language units, expressive means and stylistic devices peculiar to a given writer, which makes that writer's works or even utterances easily recognizable. 1. The Belles - Lettres Functional Style.a) poetry;b) emotive prose;c) drama; 2. Publicistic Functional Style, a) oratory;b) essays;c) articles in newspapers and magazines;3. The Newspaper Functional Style. a) brief news items;b) advertisments and announcements; c) headlines;4. The Scientific Prose Style.a) exact sciences;b) humanitarian sciences; c) popular- science prose;5. The Official Documents Functional Style.a) diplomatic documents;b) business letters;c) military documents;d) legal documents;

Smile

Simile-is an expressed imaginative comparison based on the likeness of two objects or ideas belonging to different classes. The comparison is formally expressed by the words as, like, as if, such as, seem. Similes can include other figures of speech. For example, "He ran like greased lightning" is a simile that includes hyperbole. Similes often make use of irony or sarcasm. In such cases they may even mean the opposite of the adjective used (His explanation was as clear as mud.) Similes are sometimes made without using the words "like" or "as." This often occurs when making comparisons of differing values ("I'm happier than a tornado in a trailer park.)

Дата добавления: 2015-11-14