Abstract
This paper explores some aspects of functional stylistics with relation to discourse analysis. The basis of every stylistic research is the identification of a set of linguistic elements that determine stylistic variation in a context of speech. Without this basis, every unit of speech may be considered only optionally marked with no ground for the estimation of its relative significance or communicative value. It is argued in the paper based on the theory of ‘timbre strings’ (Konurbaev 2015) that contextual neutrality is primarily functional rather than purely stylistic in nature. Linguistic elements marked in the dictionary as stylistically marked may remain neutral in the context of stylistically comparable elements as is the case with the Bible or other context heavily fraught with inherently connotative elements. Every instance of stylistic markedness or neutrality can be determined against the broad stylistic background of the context under investigation. Intonation and timbre may serve as a good marker of stylistic hierarchy of elements in speech.
Highlights
The core essence of stylistics is selecting words from the stock of the language and arranging them in a particular order and combination in speech (Akhmanova and Idzelis 1978)
Each lexical item during its ‘life-time’ accumulates a stylistic ‘history’ of its own: contexts, styles, situations that are collectively considered by the author during the creation process
Once a biblical lexical item is used, for example, it can never stay in the background unless other, stylistically similar elements are used in the same text in whose context the current item will either be foregrounded or relegated to the background
Summary
The core essence of stylistics is selecting words from the stock of the language and arranging them in a particular order and combination in speech (Akhmanova and Idzelis 1978). Domineering automation underlays the style of everyday communication; intellectualization is typical of the scientific and official texts; the function of impact predetermines the quality of journalism and fiction It follows that based on the speaker’s purport, practically every linguistic element can be either automated, when used at the ‘functional background’ of the text not involved in an act of forming the core of the message, or foregrounded with the purposes of building the context where the elements of speech may expand their semantic capacity to such an extent that other, related to them contextual elements, form the area of rich and powerful semantic associations (Douthwaite 2000). Once a biblical lexical item is used, for example, it can never stay in the background unless other, stylistically similar elements are used in the same text in whose context the current item will either be foregrounded or relegated to the background
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