Stylistics | Exam questions and answers well elaborated graded a+.

General notes on style and stylistics. The subject matter and the purposes of the course of stylistics. - correct answers1. Stylistics is a branch of General Linguistics. 2.1. It investigates the inventory of special language means, which secure the desirable effect of the utterance. They are called Stylistic Devices (SD) and Expressive Means (EM). 2.2. It investigates certain types of texts which due to the choice and arrangement of language means (LM) are distinguished by the pragmatic aspect of communication. They are called Functional Styles. The concept of style. Style in imaginative literature. Style in language. Charles Bally. - correct answers1. Style in language is understood to be the whole corpus of expressive means of a language. 2. This point of view was first proclaimed Charles Bally in his book "Stylistique Francais" and later developed in numerous works on style. (Style can be roughly defined as the peculiarity, the set of specific features of a text. Style is just what differentiates a group of homogeneous texts from other groups.) 3. Style in imaginative literature is studied by Literary Stylistics (литературоведческая стилистика). It studies the peculiarities of a writer's style, his individual and creative choice of the resources of the language, the limitations which are superimposed by the writer's period, his genre and his purpose. Stylistics and other linguistic sciences. Stylistics and non-linguistic sciences. - correct answers1. Among linguistic sciences are: Lexicology, Phonetics, Grammar. Among non-linguistic sciences are: Statistics, Logic, Information Theory, Psychology, etc. 2. 1. Lexical Stylistics studies the interaction of primary dictionary and contextual meanings. It studies expressive, evaluative, emotive meanings of words. 2. 2. Morphological Stylistics studies expressive potentialities of different grammatical categories (ex. category of number). (One 'I'm sorry' is worth twenty 'I told you so's.) 2. 3. Syntactical Stylistics studies expressive potentialities of the word-order, of different communicative types of sentences. Much attention is paid to different types of rendering the speech of characters, inner speech, dialogue, etc. 2. 4. Phonetic Stylistics or Phonostylistics pays attention only to style-forming phonetic features of sublanguages: it describes variants of pronunciation occurring in different types of speech (recitation versus colloquial speech). Individual style of a writer. Literary norm. Varieties of language, their main features. - correct answers1) The individual style of a writer refers to the unique manner in which they express their thoughts through language. 2) Literary norms refer to the conventions, standards, and typical features of language and literature within a particular culture or genre. 3) Varieties of language include dialects, registers, and stylistic variations. They encompass different forms of language that have distinct features, functions, and usage contexts. 4) Main Features of Varieties of Language: - **Phonological Features**: Differences in sound systems and pronunciation patterns. - **Lexical Features**: Variations in vocabulary and word choice specific to groups or regions. - **Grammatical Features**: Distinctions in syntax and grammatical structures, which can vary widely between dialects. - **Sociolinguistic Factors**: Language use can be influenced by social class, age, gender, and other demographic factors, reflecting the identity and cultural background of speakers. General notes on functional styles. - correct answers1) Functional styles, also known as styles of language or registers, refer to the various ways language is used in different contexts and for specific purposes. Each functional style is characterized by its vocabulary, grammar, syntax, and overall tone, catering to the particular needs of its audience and the aims of communication. 2) Types of Functional Styles: - Literary Style - Scientific Style The belles lettres style, its main substyles, their main features. - correct answersThe belles-lettres style, often referred to as the "fine letters" or "literary style," encompasses a range of literary forms that prioritize aesthetic values and emotional expression. It is characterized by its creative and artistic use of language, aiming to engage readers not just intellectually but also emotionally. Newspaper style, its basic features: brief news items, advertisements and announcements, the headline, the editorial. Publicistic style. - correct answers1) Newspaper style is a specific form of journalistic writing characterized by its clarity, conciseness, and straightforwardness, aimed at informing the public about current events, opinions, and advertisements. Here are the basic features of newspaper style, along with explanations of different components. 2) The publicistic style is a form of writing closely associated with journalism and aims to inform, persuade, or engage the public. It encompasses various forms of expression, including articles, essays, commentaries, and reviews. Scientific prose style, its main characteristic features. - correct answersScientific prose style is a specialized form of writing used in the field of science and academia to convey research findings, theories, and scientific concepts clearly and precisely. Its primary goal is to communicate complex information in a way that is accessible and understandable to the intended audience, which may include other scientists, students, and the general public. Here are the main characteristic features of scientific prose style. Meaning from a stylistic point of view; grammatical meaning; lexical meaning; denotational and connotational meanings. - correct answersIn linguistics and stylistics, the concept of meaning is essential for understanding how language functions to convey ideas, emotions, and information. Here's a breakdown of different types of meaning from a stylistic perspective, including grammatical meaning, lexical meaning, and both denotational and connotational meanings: 1) Grammatical meaning refers to the meaning conveyed by the grammatical structure of a sentence. This includes aspects like tense, mood, voice, aspect, and the syntactic relationships among words in a sentence 2) Lexical meaning refers to the meaning of individual words (lexemes) as represented in the lexicon or vocabulary of a language. This meaning can be both denotative and connotative. 3) Denotational meaning is the direct, explicit meaning of a word or expression, as found in a dictionary. It refers to what a word literally signifies. 4) Connotational meaning refers to the associations, emotions, or additional meanings that a word invokes in addition to its denotational meaning. This can vary based on personal experiences, cultural context, and usage. Expressive means and stylistic devices. Tropes and figures of speech. Principles and mechanisms. Convergence. Lexical stylistic devices, their main groups. Trite and original SDs. Simple and developed SDs. - correct answers1) In stylistics, **expressive means** and **stylistic devices** are essential tools used by writers and speakers to enhance the effectiveness of their communication. They help convey emotions, create imagery, and engage the audience. Below is an overview of these concepts, including tropes, figures of speech, principles, mechanisms, and various classifications of lexical stylistic devices. 2) These are figures of speech that involve a change in the usual meaning of a word or phrase, creating a figurative meaning: metaphor, metonymy 3) Figures of speech, These can refer to the broader category of stylistic devices, often focusing on the arrangement and sound of words, including: alliteration 4) - **Convergence** refers to the blending of various expressive means and stylistic devices within a text, leading to richer meanings and heightened emotional impact. It represents the interaction and synergy of different elements, enhancing overall effectiveness. - correct answers5) Simple and Developed Stylistic Devices. **Simple SDs:** These involve basic, straightforward uses of language, often focusing on individual words or phrases that have a clear expressive function (e.g., a single metaphor or simile). **Developed SDs:** These are more complex constructions that involve multiple layers of meaning, structure, and stylistic elements, such as an extended metaphor that weaves throughout a narrative or poem. 6) **Trite SDs:** These are overused or clichéd expressions that have lost their original impact due to excessive repetition. They often fail to engage readers and can feel predictable, such as "time will tell" or "think outside the box." 7) **Original SDs:** These are freshly created or uniquely employed stylistic devices that provide new insights, evoke strong emotions, or provoke thought. Originality can enhance the novelty of a text and its overall impact.