Problems of stylistic research

The Object of Stylistics

Units of language on different levels are studied by phonetics, lexicology, grammar & syntax.

The scope of problems and the object of stylistic study go back to ancient schools of rhetoric and poetics. Both the object and the material of studies of Stylistics are very specific. The matter is while speaking of the stylistic value of a text, it's impossible to proceed from the level-biased approach which comprises the hierarchical system of sounds, words and clauses. Each of these linguistic units may be charged with stylistic meaning. Besides the interaction of these elements, the structure and composition of the whole text are stylistically relevant. Stylistics is all-level discipline.

Another problem has to do with "style". Stylistics deals with styles. Different schools have defined •'style" differently at different times.

In 1955 the Academician V. V. Vinogradov defined style as "socially recognized and functionally conditioned intsrnally united totality of the ways of using, selecting and combining the means of lingual intercourse of one national language or another ...".

In 1971 professor/. R. Galperin offered his definition of style "as a system of interrelated language means which serves a definite aim in communication".

According to professor Y. M. Skrebnev "style is what differentiates a group of homogeneous texts (an individual text) from all other Croups (other texts)... Style can be rough!) defined as the peculiarity, the set ofspecific features of a text type or of a specific text,'"

All these definitions point out the systematic and functionally determined character of the notion of style.

There are 3 most popular view points in English language style classifications.

I. Prof. /. R. Galperin suggests 5 styles for the English language.

1. belles-lettres style: poetry, emotive prose, and drama:

2. publicist style: oratory and speeches, essay articles:

3. newspaper style: brief news items, headlines, advertisements, editorial:

4. scientific prose style;

5. official document style.

II.Prof. I.V. Arnold distinguishes 4 styles:

1. poetic style:

2. scientific style;

3. newspaper style:

4. colloquial style.

III.Prof. Y. M. Skrebnev suggests a most unconventional viewpoint on the number of styles: the number of sublanguages and styles is infinite;

In general, the problem of style definition is not the only one Stylistics deals with.

Stylistics studies the principles and effect of choice and usage of different language elements in rendering thought and emotion under different conditions of communication. Stylistics is concerned with such issues as:

1. the aesthetic function of language;

2. expressive means in language;

3. synonymous ways of rendering one and the same idea;

4. emotional colouring in language;

5. a system of special devices called stylistic devices:

6. the splitting of the literary language into separate system called style;

7. the interrelation between language and thought;

8. the individual manner of an author in making use of the language.

So, the object of Stylistics is versatile and multi-dimensional.