英语文体学

英语文体学Unit 5 Formal vs Informal Language英教0901班董宜之程雅洁田冬雪Contents 5.1 The interpersonal function of language 5.2 Degrees of formality5.3 Functional tenor and degrees offormality5.4 Martin Joo’s Classification5.5 Speech situation and formality5.6 Formality and linguistic features5.7 Sets of co-occurring features5.8 Involved vs informational texts5.9 Tenors, field, and mode5.1 The interpersonalfunction of language1.Functions of language:●the ideational / referential function●the interpersonal / social / expressive function●the textual function2. Tenors of discourse: the relationship between participants in the situation, their roles and status.The participant relations that determine the tenor of discourserange through varying degrees of permanence.●Most temporary: at a party, on a train●Well-established: parents and children●Intermediate: teacher and pupillabor and managementThe number and types of roles to be played by bothaddresser and addressee are on a large part determined by the structure ofsociety: by economic status, by education, by occupation, by ethnic group, by gender.What is more, the language an individual uses will redefine each situation.e.g.●How d o you do?---relationship as that of stranger to stranger●Hello, glad to meet you again. ---acquaintances5.2 Degrees offormality Formality: the way in which the style of language will vary in appropriateness according to the social context: the occasion and the relationship between addresser and addressee (s). Personal tenor expresses the various roles assumed by the participants and the degree of formality of their relationship.The address forms people use are probably the most direct and obvious means to indicate roles and relationships. Three most frequently used address forms:1) the reciprocal exchange ofTitle plus Last Name (TLN);2) the reciprocal exchange ofFirst Name (FN);3) the non-reciprocal pattern in which one person uses FN and the other TLN.The difference in personal tenor between formal (relatively stiff, cold, polite, impersonal) and informal (relatively relaxed, warm, rude, friendly) as shown in corresponding linguistic contrast involving grammar, vocabulary and phonology: 1) Patrons are requested to ascend to the next floor. (formal)2) OK, guys! Get up to the next floor! (informal)3) I should most certainly like to attend your ball, Sir Reginald. (formal)4) I’d like to come to your do, Reg. (informal)5.3 Functional tenor anddegrees of formality Functional tenor tells us the addresser’s intention of using the language.Different situational types of language are endowed with different predominant functions, e.g.●advertising with persuasion●a lecture with exposition●a politi cal speech with agitation●a sermon with exhortation and teaching.Certain functional tenors can hit any point on the personal tenor formality continuum, e.g.an expository speech: formal, with many passive constructions and a technical vocabulary; or, informal, in an ad-lib manner, with personalanecdotes, reference to the audience.an insult: formal (formal structure and vocabulary, calm or deliberate delivery) or informal.Martin Joos’classificationThe range of formality:frozen, formal, consultative, casual, and intimate.The frozen level:is used for written legal documents or highly solemn speech which consists of memorized sentences that must be repeated verbatim. These might include quotations from proverbs or ritual expressions which are part of a formal ceremony.The formal level ：is used for public addresses such aslectures or speeches where the audience is not known to the speaker personally or where personal acquaintance is not acknowledged. This level requires much attention to form，and allows little or no interaction. It is typically marked with the use of may place of might . The speaker is usually considered to be an authority and, therefore, has higher status than the hearers for that particular event.The consultative level ：is used at less formal gatherings such as committee meetings where status is still fairly clearly designated, but where participants interact. There is still considerable attention to form (with rather clear pronunciation, accurate wording and complete sentences), and participants may not know each other well. It may be necessary for speakers to elaborate and give a significant amount of background material.The casual level:is used among friends, or peers who know each other well enough that little elaboration is necessary. Participants pay very little attention to form (shown by the use of slang and ellipsis as in 'Been a good thing if...') and concentrate totally on content and relationship.the intimate level：l anguage used between people who see each other daily (family members for instance) and share the majority of their daily life experiences. As a result, language is unelaborated and conversation may be meaningless to outsiders because of its telegraphic quality. No attention is paid to form.e.g.1) My beloved parent has just passed to his heavenly reward.2) My dear father has just expired.3) My father has just passed away.4) My dad has died.5) My old man just kicked the bucket.---by Martin JoosJoo's categories prensent an efficient way of looking at degrees of formality.It is fairly easy to distinguish the frozen style of (written)legal documents from the intimate style of (spoken)interchanges between close friends.But it is not easy to categorie the intervening degrees,or relate them to linguistic features.So most linguists agree that the situation is more complex than Joos imagined and see the range as a continuum from the most formal to the most informal/intimate,with an infinite number of stopping places in between.Speech situation and formality The speech situation:the setting, purpose, audience, social relations, and topic.Variation of registers may shift the level of formality.It is true that speakers assess the situation before selecting a register,but it is also true that the register choice helps to create the social situation.The solemn tone and the elaborate way ofopening the speech can really make theaudience feel 'frozen':Madame Chairman, Mrs Vice-president, Honoured Guests, Faculty and Friends:I feel most deeply honoured to have been invited to speak to such an illustrious gathering tonight and to be given the priviledge of presenting to my distinguished colleagues, especially Dr Monrovia, what we have recently found in a demanding research project in the field of sociolinguistics, an area of study that, we feel, may have great potential for your profession also.。