INTRODUCTION
The subject of stylistics has so far not been definitely outlined. This is due to a number of
reasons.
First of all there is confusion between the terms style and stylistics. The first concept is so broad
that it is hardly possible to regard it as a term. We speak of style in architecture, literature,
behaviour, linguistics, dress and other fields of human activity.
Even in linguistics the word style is used so widely that it needs interpretation. Style may be
belles-letters or scientific or neutral or low colloquial or archaic or pompous, or a combination of
those. Style may also be typical of a certain writer - Shakespearean style, Dickensian style, etc.
There is the style of the press, the style of official documents, the style of social etiquette and
even an individual style of a speaker or writer . Different scholars have defined style differently
at different times. Prof. I. R. Galperin offered his definition of style "as a system of interrelated
language means which serves a definite aim in communication."
Prof. Y. M. Skrebnev, whose book on stylistics was published in 1994, "style is what
differentiates a group of homogeneous texts (an individual text) from all other groups (other
texts)... Style can be roughly defined as the peculiarity, the set of specific features of a text type
or of a specific text".
1. There is a widely held view that style is the correspondence between thought and
expression. The notion is based on the assumption that of the two functions of language - it
serves as a means of communication and also as a means of shaping one's thoughts. The first
function is called communicative, the second – expressive. The expressive function finds its
proper materialization in sentences especially arranged to convey the ideas and also to get the
desired response.
2. Another commonly accepted connotation of the term style is embellishment (decoration) of
language. Language and style are regarded as separate bodies, language can easily dispense with
(do away) style, which is likened to the trimming on a dress. Moreover, style as an
embellishment of language is viewed as something that hinders understanding. Style may dress
the thought in such fancy attire (clothes) that one can hardly get at the idea hidden behind the
design of tricky stylistic devices.
This notion presupposes the use of bare language forms deprived of any stylistic devices of any
expressive means deliberately employed. Perhaps it is due to this notion that the word "style"
itself is associated with the idea of something pompous (splendid), showy artificial, something
that is set against simplicity, truthfulness, the natural. Shakespeare was a determined enemy of
all kinds of embellishments of language.
3. A very popular notion among practical linguists, teachers of language, is that style is
technique of expression. In this sense style is generally defined as the ability to write clearly,
correctly and in a manner calculated to the interest of the reader. Style in this sense should be
taught, but it belongs to the realm of grammar, and not to stylistics. It sets up a number of rules
as to how to speak and write.
