The Notion Of Functional Style (FS ). The Classification of FSs

The Notion Of Functional Style (FS )

A FS of language is a system of interrelated language means serving a definite aim of communication.

The Classification of FSs

The problem of the classification of FSs is one of the disputable issues of this branch of science, for different scholars see things differently. Four out of several suggested classifications are listed below.

1. Galperin's five FSs include:

a) The belles-lettres FS embracing 3 substyles: poetry, emotive prose, drama

b) The publicistic FS with 3 substyles: oratory, essays, feature articles in newspapers and magazines

c) The newspaper FS with 3 substyles: brief news items, headlines, notices and advertisements

d) The scientific prose FS with 3 substyles: exact sciences, humanitarian sciences, popular science prose

e) The official documents FS embracing 4 substyles: diplomatic documents, business documents, legal documents, military document.

2. Naer's seven macrostyles embrace: a) official documents; b) scientific, c) professional-technical, d) newspaper, e) publicistic, f) belles-lettres and, g) religious texts.

3. Kuznets & Skrebnev style hyerarchy:

a) The literary refined style - the publicistic, the scientific-technical, the style of official documents;

b) The free (colloquial) style - literary colloquial, familiar colloquial.

4. Arnold's style division: a) neutral style, b) colloquial style: literary, familiar, low, c) bookish style: scientific, official documents, publicists (newspaper), oratorical, lofty-poetical.

UNIT 1. THE STYLE OF OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS.

All major FS styles, the style of official documents including, usually comprise several subdivisions or substyles. Thus, the style of official documents falls into the style (or substyle) of 1) diplomatic documents, 2) business documents, 3) legal documents, 4) military documents.

Like other styles of language, the style of official documents has a definite communicative aim and its own system of interrelated language means. The main aim of this type of communication is to reach an agreement and to state the conditions binding two parties in an undertaking, the parties being the state and the citizen, the citizen and the citizen, the state and the state. This most general aim of the style of official documents predetermines the peculiarities of the style, such as their composition, the extensive use of special terminology and clichés, the use of abbreviations ( particularly abundant in military documents ).

Let us now have a closer look at all the four subdivisions of the style of official documents.

(a) The Style of Diplomatic Documents.

To the sphere of international relations we attribute the style of diplomatic documents, such as treaties, agreements, conventions , declarations, protocols, exchange of notes, memoranda, acts, engagements, regulations, amendments, terms of..., minutes, etc. (They are nearly 60 in number ).

The style of diplomatic documents has its own characteristic features or style markers which help us to differentiate it from other FS.

Perhaps, the most striking feature of such documents is their composition. The principal parts of diplomatic documents in their usual order are:

1) The preamble or preliminary recitals, setting out the names of parties ( Heads of State, States or Governments ), the purpose for which the document was concluded, the " resolve " of the parties to enter into it, and the names and designations of the plenipotentionaries (i.e. envoys or commissioners appointed to act according to their own discretion).

2) The substantive clauses, sometimes known as the "dispositive provisions" or the body.

3)Тhе formal ( or final) clauses dealing with technical or formal points or matters relative to the application or entry into force of the document. Usually such clauses relate separately to the following: the date of the documents, the mode of acceptance, opening of the documents for signature, entry into force, duration, etc.

4) Formal acknowledgment of signature.

5) Signature by the plenipotentiaries.

Such forms have come into existence in the course of historical development of the style and now, because of the necessity for absolute precision and the avoidance of any ambiguity which is important in international relations, these forms are so firmly fixed that scarcely any deviation is permitted.

Another important feature of this style is the use of special terms, i.e. words or word groups to name a notion characteristic of some special field of knowledge or sphere of communication. Diplomatic terminology includes terms proper (to accredit, dispatch