Chapter 1 This branch of stylistics specifically analyzes the style,

language, and techniques used in literary texts such as

AN OVERVIEW OF STYLISTICS novels, poems, plays, etc. Literary stylistics examines how
authors use language creatively to convey meaning, evoke
emotions, and create aesthetic effects. It often involves close
A. Meaning, Nature, and Goals of Stylistics textual analysis, looking at elements such as imagery,
symbolism, metaphor, narrative structure, and character
Meaning of Stylistics
development.
Stylistics is the study of linguistic style in written or spoken
General Stylistics
language. It analyzes how language choices contribute to
meaning, effect, and interpretation. It bridges the gap General stylistics, on the other hand, is broader in scope and
between literary criticism and linguistics, focusing on how encompasses the study of style across various types of texts,
language is used to create artistic and communicative including both literary and non-literary genres. It explores
effects. how language is used in different contexts, such as
journalism, advertising, legal writing, scientific discourse,
Nature of Stylistics
etc. General stylistics may focus on aspects such as sentence
1. Interdisciplinary - Stylistics combines elements of structure, word choice, rhetorical devices, and discourse
linguistics and literary analysis, using linguistic tools to patterns, with the goal of understanding how these linguistic
examine texts. features contribute to effective communication and
persuasion.
2. Objective and Systematic - Unlike traditional literary
criticism, stylistics applies scientific and systematic methods In summary, while literary stylistics concentrates on the
in analyzing texts. stylistic analysis of literary texts, general stylistics examines
style more broadly across different types of discourse and
3. Descriptive and Analytical - It describes how language communication.
operates in texts rather than evaluating the text's quality.
C. Historical Development of Stylistics
4. Context-Dependent - Stylistic choices vary based on
historical, social, and cultural contexts. Stylistics, the study of style in language, has undergone a
fascinating historical development over the centuries. Here's
5. Focus on Deviation and Foregrounding - It examines how a concise overview:
texts use language innovatively, such as breaking linguistic
norms to create emphasis or stylistic effects. 1. Classical Antiquity: The roots of stylistics can be traced
back to ancient Greek and Roman rhetoricians such as
Goals of Stylistics Aristotle, Plato, and Cicero. They explored the art of
persuasion through language and rhetoric, discussing
1. To Analyze Language Use in Texts - Identify linguistic
elements like diction, syntax, and figures of speech.
features (phonological, lexical, syntactic, and semantic) that
shape meaning. 2. Renaissance: During the Renaissance, scholars like
Erasmus and Quintilian continued the classical tradition of
2. To Understand Authorial Style - Examine how different
rhetorical analysis. They emphasized the importance of
authors use language uniquely.
eloquence and clarity in language.
3. To Enhance Literary Interpretation - Provide insights into
3. 18th and 19th Centuries: The rise of literary criticism led
literary texts by exploring their language patterns.
to a deeper examination of style in literature. Critics like
4. To Bridge Linguistics and Literature-Apply linguistic Samuel Johnson and Matthew Arnold focused on the
principles to literary texts for a more objective aesthetic aspects of language, analyzing the unique styles of
interpretation. literary works and their impact on readers.

5. To Explore Reader Response - Study how different 4. Early 20th Century: The emergence of structuralism and
linguistic choices influence readers' understanding and formalism in linguistics and literary theory laid the
emotional response. groundwork for modern stylistics. Scholars like Roman
Jakobson and Viktor Shklovsky explored the structural and
Stylistics is essential for linguists, literary critics, and functional aspects of language, including deviations from
language teachers, as it provides tools to critically examine normative usage.
how language works in communication and literature.
5. Mid-20th Century: The development of linguistic
B. Literary Stylistics vs. General Stylistics theories, particularly in the form of structuralism and later
generative grammar, influenced stylistic analysis. Stylistics
Literary stylistics and general stylistics are both branches of
became more systematic and interdisciplinary, drawing on
stylistics, which is the study of linguistic style, including its
insights from linguistics, psychology, and sociology.
variations and effects. However, they focus on different
aspects of language use:

Literary Stylistics
 Each functional style has distinct linguistic features
that serve its communicative purpose effectively.
6. Late 20th Century: The advent of corpus linguistics
revolutionized stylistic analysis by providing large databases E. Denotative vs. Connotative Meaning & Lexical vs.
of language usage for systematic study. Scholars like Stylistic Meaning
Michael Halliday and M.A.K. Halliday developed systemic
functional linguistics, which emphasized the functional 1. Denotative vs. Connotative Meaning
aspects of language, including its social and cultural Denotative Meaning
contexts.
The literal, dictionary definition of a word. It is objective
7. 21st Century: Stylistics continues to evolve with and does not carry emotional or cultural associations.
advancements in computational linguistics and digital
humanities. Techniques such as sentiment analysis, Example: Home A place where one lives.
stylometry, and natural language processing are applied to
Connotative Meaning
study style in a wide range of texts, from literature to social
media. The emotional, cultural, or subjective associations attached
to a word beyond its literal meaning.
D. Understanding Style
• Example:
Meaning of Style
Home Warmth, family, security, comfort.
Style refers to the distinctive way language is used in speech
or writing. It encompasses word choice, sentence structure, Words may have the same denotation but different
tone, and rhetorical devices, shaping how a message is connotations based on cultural, historical, or personal
conveyed and perceived. Style can be influenced by factors.
personal, social, and situational factors.
2. Lexical vs. Stylistic Meaning
Norm
Lexical Meaning The inherent meaning of a word as found
A norm in stylistics is the accepted or conventional way of in a dictionary, independent of context. It represents the
using language within a particular linguistic community. It fundamental idea the word conveys.
serves as a standard against which variations in style are
measured. Norms can change over time and may differ • Example: Child-A young human being.
across regions, professions, and genres.
Stylistic Meaning
Individual Style
The additional meaning a word acquires based on its use in
Individual style is the unique way an author or speaker uses different contexts, styles, or literary devices. It can be
language, distinguishing them from others. It includes formal, informal, poetic, archaic, or slang.
recurring patterns in vocabulary, syntax, and rhetorical
• Example: Kid (informal), offspring (formal), youngling
strategies that make a writer or speaker recognizable. For
(poetic/archaic) all referring to a child but with different
example, William Shakespeare's use of iambic pentameter
stylistic effects.
and metaphors contributes to his distinct literary style.
Understanding these distinctions helps in analyzing texts
Functional Style
more effectively, especially in stylistics, where language
Functional style refers to language variations used in choice plays a key role in meaning and interpretation.
different spheres of communication-based on purpose and
F. Linguistic vs. Extralingual Contexts & Microcontext vs.
context. These styles are determined by the function they
Macrocontext
serve in communication.
1. Linguistic vs. Extralingual Contexts
Types of Functional Style
Linguistic Context Refers to the surrounding words,
 Scientific Style - Used in academic and research
sentences, or discourse that influence the meaning of a word
writing, characterized by precision and objectivity.
or phrase. It includes grammatical and semantic
 Official or Bureaucratic Style Found in legal,
relationships within the text.
administrative, and government documents, using
formal and standardized language. • Example: The word bank in He sat by the riverbank is
 Publicist or Media Style Used in expressiveness, understood through its linguistic context, differentiating it
and emotional appeal. journalism and persuasive from I deposited money in the bank.
writing, featuring clarity.
 Literary Style - Found in creative writing, using Extralingual Context Refers to external factors beyond the
artistic and aesthetic language. text that influence meaning, such as cultural, historical,
 Conversational Style - Used in everyday speech, situational, and social context.
informal and spontaneous.
Example: The phrase breaking the ice in a conversation is
understood through extralingual context, meaning to ease
tension rather than literally breaking ice.

2. Microcontext vs. Macrocontext

Microcontext The immediate context within a sentence,

paragraph, or specific discourse that affects meaning. It
includes the words, phrases, and sentences that surround a
linguistic unit.
Both expressiveness and emotiveness make language more
Example: In the sentence She was blue after hearing the bad impactful, but expressiveness focuses on stylistic
news, the microcontext clarifies that Mue means "sad" enhancement, while emotiveness conveys emotions and
rather than a color. personal attitudes.
Macrocontext The broader cultural, historical, social, or H. Expressive Means, Stylistic Devices, and Functional
political context that influences interpretation. It includes Means
background knowledge, speaker identity, audience, and
societal norms. 1. Expressive Means (EMS)

Example: The phrase I have a dream in Martin Luther King Definition: Expressive means refer to the linguistic tools
Jr.'s speech carries significance due to its macrocontext-civil used to enhance meaning, create emphasis, and add intensity
rights movement, racial equality, and historical impact. to speech or writing.

Understanding these concepts is essential for analyzing Function: They naturally exist within a language and serve
language use, interpretation, and communication to highlight or strengthen communication.
effectiveness in different contexts.
Examples:
G. Expressiveness vs. Emotiveness
Phonetic EMs: Intonation, stress, pauses (e.g., He was so
1. Expressiveness brave! with emphasis

Definition: Expressiveness refers to the intensity and on "so").

stylistic impact of language in conveying meaning,
emphasis, or artistic effect. It enhances communication by Lexical EMs: Intensifiers (e.g., very, absolutely, extremely).
making it more vivid, persuasive, or aesthetically appealing. • Syntactic EMs: Repetition (I waited and waited and
Function: It is used to highlight certain ideas, create strong waited...), inversion (Bright was the moon that night.).
imagery, or engage the reader/audience emotionally. 2. Stylistic Devices (SDs)
Examples of Expressiveness: Definition: Stylistic devices are deliberate artistic techniques
• Figurative Language: The night was a velvet curtain, used to create specific effects in writing or speech. They go
wrapping the world in darkness. beyond basic expressive means and are often associated
with literary and rhetorical styles.
• Repetition for Effect: Never, never, never give up!
Function: They make language more imaginative,
• Sound Devices: Sizzling sausages on a Sunday morning. persuasive, and engaging.

2. Emotiveness • Examples:

Definition: Emotiveness refers to the emotional charge or • Metaphor: Time is a thief.

subjective feelings conveyed through language. It reflects
the speaker's or writer's attitude, emotions, or personal 。 Simile: As brave as a lion.
involvement. • Alliteration: Silent, soft snow slowly fell.
Function: It aims to provoke an emotional response in the • Irony: Oh great, another rainy day! (when actually
listener/reader and often includes words with strong frustrated).
connotations.
Difference Between EMs and SDs:
Examples of Emotiveness:
Expressive means are general language features that
• Emotionally Loaded Words: A heart-wrenching tragedy enhance expressiveness.
(instead of just a tragedy).
Stylistic devices are intentional artistic techniques used for
• Interjections and Exclamations: Oh no! What a disaster! special effects.
• Subjective Expressions: I absolutely love this breathtaking
view!
3. Functional Means

Definition: Functional means refer to language variations

used in different communication contexts based on function
and purpose. These include various functional styles such as
scientific, journalistic, official, literary, and conversational
styles.

Function: They help achieve specific communicative goals

in professional, formal, or informal settings.

Examples:

Scientific Style: Precise terms, passive voice (The

experiment was conducted...).

。 Official Style: Formal phrases (Pursuant to the law...).

Journalistic Style: Persuasive language (Breaking news!

Shocking discovery...).

• Conversational Style: Informal, everyday speech (Hey!

What's up?).