Lecture №2

The notion of functional style. Formal and informal styles. Basic vocabulary.

Just as there is formal and informal dress, so there is formal and informal speech. The social context in which the communication is taking place determines both the mode (way - способ) of dress and the modes of speech. When placed in different situations, people instinctively choose different kinds of words and structures to express their thoughts. The suitability or unsuitability of a word for each particular situation depends on its stylistic characteristics or, on other words, on the functional style it represents.

The term functional style is generally accepted in modern linguistics. Functional style is a system of expressive means (выразительные средства) peculiar to a specific sphere of communication.

The sphere of communication is circumstances attending the process of speech in each particular case: professional communication, a lecture, a formal letter etc.

All these circumstances or situations can be classified into two types: formal (a lecture, professional communication) and informal (an informal talk).

Accordingly, functional styles are classified into two groups, with further subdivisions depending on different situations.

Informal style

Informal style is used in one’s immediate (close/nearest) circle: family, relatives or friends. But it should be pointed out that the informal talk of well-educated people considerably differs from that of the illiterate (who cannot read or write) or semi-educated. The choice of words is determined in each particular case not only by an informal (or formal) situation, but also by the speaker’s educational and cultural background, age group, and his occupational and regional characteristics.

Informal words and word-groups are traditionally divided into three groups: colloquial, slang and dialect words and word-groups.

Colloquial words

Colloquial words are used by everybody, and their sphere of communication is comparatively wide, at least of literary colloquial words. These are informal words that are used in everyday conversational speech both by cultivated (who has been educated) and uneducated people of all age groups. The sphere of communication of literary colloquial words also includes the printed page. They are widely used in modern fiction to create warm, informal atmosphere.

Slang

Slang is colloquial words and phrases typically more colourful, metaphorical, vulgar used by certain groups of people in popular speech, they are not used in correct or written language. All or most slang words are current words whose meanings have been metaphorically shifted. (For example, “Look at the copper …” (слэнг) (SC, 543) Copper – a policeman. (ADSUE) “Oh, he’s a slow, greedy “mick”!” (слэнг) (SC, 368) Mick – an Irishman. (ADSUE))

People use slang to be picturesque, striking and different from others, to sound modern and up-to-date, independent and daring. The circle of users of slang is more narrow than that of colloquialisms. It is mainly used by the young and uneducated.