Do the test to check your knowledge

1. Archaisms may be used in a literary text

a) to show that the speaker is attached to the unusual words;

b) create the historic atmosphere;

c) to produce humorous effect.

2. Archaic proper are

a) the words which are no longer recognizable in Modern English;

b) still recognized by the English speaking community;

c) the words, which are in the stage of gradually passing out of general use;

d)) the words which do not belong to the English vocabulary.

3. Poetic words are used in poetic diction

a) due to the poetic tradition only;

b) to create the romantic atmosphere;

c) to produce the effect of elevation;

d) to comply with the poetic tradition and to create romantic atmosphere.

4. Barbarisms are

a) generally explained either in footnotes;

b) part of the English word stock;

c) to be found in business letters;

d) no longer recognizable in Modern English.

5. Foreign words and phrases are

a) generally explained in footnotes or by means of paraphrasing.

b) never explained;

c) hardly be used in the English language;

d) historical words.

6. Terms

a) form the bulk of the English vocabulary;

b) are generally associated with a definite branch of science;

c) emotionally colored;

d) are used primarily in poetry.

7. Nonce words (occasional words) are

a) employed by a particular branch of science;

b) stylistically colored individual neologisms;

c) no longer recognizable in Modern English;

d) historical words.

PART III

STYLISTIC CLASSIFICATION OF THE ENGLISH VOCALBULARY

Colloquial stratum of words. Special colloquial vocabulary

• slang;

• jargonisms;

• dialectal words;

• professionalisms;

• vulgar words;

• colloquial coinages (Nonce words).

Slang

The Oxford English Dictionary defines slang as "language of a highly colloquial style, considered as below the level of standard educated speech, and consisting either of new words or of current words employed in some special sense". This definition is inadequate because it equates slang with colloquial style. The qualification "highly" can hardly serve as the criterion for distinguishing between colloquial style and slang. Yet, the last line of the definition current words in some special sense is important.

Slang is the most extended and vastly developed subgroup of nonstandard colloquial layer of the vocabulary. Besides separate words it includes also highly figurative phraseology. Occurring mainly in dialogue, slang serves to create speech characteristics in personages.

Slang is an extremely an ambiguous term. It seems to mean everything that is below the Standard English vocabulary. The term is usually used to denote expressive words serving as fresh names for some concepts that are frequent subject of conversation. For the most part they sound somewhat vulgar, cynical and harsh. They usually denote objects which for some reason or other excite an emotional reaction, e.g. money, food, alcohol drinks, stealing and other violations of the law, death, madness, etc. Example: attic, upper storey, nut (head).

Slang is used in informal situations where a person feels comfortable with friends or associates. Slang words often are new words in the language, or old words that now have a new meaning. Slang words may have 'an attitude". That is, the word can show the speaker's feelings or opinion about something. Many slang expressions show creativity, humor, affection, hostility, anger, or resentment. Some slang terms are derogatory (унизительны). Derogatory words are offensive.

Slang is sometimes divided into general and special. General slang includes words that are common to all the English speaking community, whereas special slang is peculiar to some group of people, e. g.: university slang, public school slang, Air Force slang, football slang, etc. It is more logical to use the term «slang» for general slang, and the term «jargon» for special slang.

It must be noted that slang is always fresh. If a slang word becomes stale, it is replaced by a new one. Thus slang always remains outside the literary standard. All or most slang words are current words whose meanings have been metaphorically shifted. Each slang metaphor is rooted in a joke, but not in a kind or amusing joke. This is the criterion for distinguishing slang from colloquialisms: most slang words are metaphors and jocular, often with a coarse, mocking.

Slang is used in emotive prose as a means of character drawing. It is also used to convey an emotional description of an object or person. The most common stylistic function of slang is the emotive accentuation of an utterance.