Stylistic classification of the English language vocabulary.

Stylistic classification of the English language vocabulary. Stylistic function of different layers of the vocabulary.

Stylistic classification of the English language vocabulary.

A special branch of linguistic science.—lexicology—has done much to classify, vocabulary. We may represent the whole of the word-stock of the English language as being divided into three main layers: the literary layer, the neutral layer and the colloquial layer.

The literary and the colloquial layers contain a number of subgroups each of which has a property it shares with all the subgroups within the layer. This common property, which unites the different groups of words within the layer, .may be called its aspect.

The aspect of the literary layer is its markedly bookish character. It is this that makes the layer more or less stable.

The aspect of the colloquial layer of words is its lively spoken character. It is this that makes it unstable, fleeting.

The aspect of the neutral layer is its universal character. That means it is unrestricted in its "use? It can be employed in all styles of language" and in all spheres of human activity. It is this that makes the layer the most stable of all. ' •

The literary layer of words consists of groups accepted as legitimate members of the English vocabulary. They have no local or dialectal character.

The literary vocabulary consists of the following groups of words: 1. common literary; 2. terms and learned words; 3. poetic words; 4. archaic words; 5. barbarisms and foreign words; 6. literary coinages including nonce-words.

The colloquial vocabulary falls into the following groups: 1. common colloquial words; 2. slang; 3. jargonisms; 4. professional words; 5. dialectal words; 6. vulgar words; 7. colloquial coinages.

The common literary, neutral and common colloquial words are grouped under the term standard English vocabulary. Other groups in the literary layer are regarded as special literary vocabulary and those in the colloquial layer are regarded as special colloquial (non-literary) vocabulary.

Neutral words, which form the bulk of the English vocabulary, are used in both literary and colloquial language. Neutral words are the main source of synonymy and polysemy. It is the neutral stock of words that is so prolific in the production of new meanings.

Unlike all other groups, the neutral group of words cannot be considered as having a special stylistic colouring, whereas both literary and colloquial words have a definite stylistic colouring.

Common literary words are mainly used in Writing and in polished speech.

Both literary and colloquial words have their upper and lower ranges.

The lower range of literary words approaches the neutral layer and has a markedly obvious tendency to pass into that layer. The same may be said of the upper range of the colloquial layer: it can very easily pass into the neutral layer.

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