Functional styles of the English language (the belles-lettres style, scientific prose, newspapers)

The belle-lettres style according to I.R. Galperin this is a generic term for 3 substyles: the language of poetry, emotive prose (the language of fiction, the language of the drama. Each of these substyles has certain common features, and each of them enjoys some individuality. The common features are the following:

· The aesthetico [i:s΄θetik] – cognitive function (a function which aims at the cognitive process, which secures the gradual unfolding of the idea to the reader + gives a feeling of satisfaction when a reader penetrate into the author’s idea and forms his own conclusion.

· Definite linguistic features:

® Genuine, not trite, imagery, achieved by purely linguistic devices

® The use of vowels in different meanings

® A peculiar individual selection of vocabulary and syntax

® The introduction of the typical features of colloquial language to a full degree (drama), to a lesser degree (in prose), to a slight degree (poetry)

The belles-lettres style is individual in essence – one of the most distinctive properties.

The language of poetry is characterized by its orderly forms, based mainly on the rhythmic and phonetic arrangement of the utterance. The rhythmic aspect calls forth semantic and syntactic peculiarities. Brevity of expression, epigram-like utterances and fresh, unexpected imagery. Syntactically this brevity is shown in elliptical sentences, detached constructions, in inversion.

Emotive prose: combine the literary variant of the language, both in words and syntax, with the colloquial variant, which is not a simple reproduction of the natural speech, it has undergone changes introduced by the writer and has been made “literary-like”. There are 2 forms of communication: monologue (the writer’s speech) and dialogue (the speech of the characters). Emotional prose uses elements from other styles as well, but they go a kind of transformation.

Language of the drama is entirely dialogue. The author’s speech is almost entirely excluded except for the playwright’s remarks and stage directions.

Any variety of the belles-lettres style will use the norms of the literary language of the given period.

Newspaper style: English newspaper writing dates from the 17^th century. The 1^st regular English newspaper was the Weekly News (May 1622). It was a vehicle of information. In the middle of 18^th century the British newspaper was very much like what it is today, carrying foreign and domestic news, ads, announcements and articles containing comments.

Not all the materials in newspapers come under newspaper style. Only materials which have the function of informing the reader of some events belong to newspaper style: these are brief news items, press reports, articles purely informational in character, ads and announcements.

The newspaper also seeks to influence public opinion on political and other matters.

Scientific prose style: the main aim is to prove some hypothesis, to crack new concepts and to disclose the infernal laws at existence, development, relations between different phenomena. The language means tend to be objective, precise and unemotional devoid of any individuality. The most noticeable features:

· The logical sequence of utterances with clear indications of their interrelations

· A developed and varied system of connectives

· The use of terms specific to each given branch of science

· Peculiar sentence patterns of 3 types: postulatory, argumentative and formulative

Postulatory: in the wavelengths are mixed, a white light will be produced

Argumentative: all life has probably evolved from that single original cell

Formulative: mechanical energy is energy related to the movements of objects

· The use of quotations and references with a definite composition patterns and the title of the work quoted, the publishing house, the place and year it was published, the page

· The use of foot notes

· The impersonality of writings

Поиск по сайту: