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The Subject and Sources of English and Ukrainian Stylistics Plan

This document provides an overview of the sources and stylistic differentiation of English and Ukrainian languages. It discusses how Comparative Stylistics originated in the 20th century and analyzes two directions of the field: comparing original and translated texts, and investigating similar and contrasting features in original texts. It also examines the sources that have influenced both English and Ukrainian stylistic systems, such as ancient Greek/Roman mythology, the Bible, and works of famous authors. Finally, it analyzes a classification system of speech styles from neutral to intimate based on levels of formality.

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42 views3 pages

The Subject and Sources of English and Ukrainian Stylistics Plan

This document provides an overview of the sources and stylistic differentiation of English and Ukrainian languages. It discusses how Comparative Stylistics originated in the 20th century and analyzes two directions of the field: comparing original and translated texts, and investigating similar and contrasting features in original texts. It also examines the sources that have influenced both English and Ukrainian stylistic systems, such as ancient Greek/Roman mythology, the Bible, and works of famous authors. Finally, it analyzes a classification system of speech styles from neutral to intimate based on levels of formality.

Uploaded by

Diana
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LECTURE 1

The Subject and Sources of English and Ukrainian Stylistics

Plan
1.The object and directions of studies of Comparative Stylistics.
2. The sources of Ukrainian and English Stylistics.
3. The stylistic differentiation of English and Ukrainian languages.

1. Comparative Stylistics originates from the middle of the XX th century. The


fundamentals of the science were laid out by the outstanding French linguist Charles
Bally. In other investigations which developed Bally’s ideas one of the compared
languages was French. There appeared comparative studies of French language with
German, English, and Russian, in particular the books by V.Gak, Yu.Stepanov,
A.Fyodorov. Two directions in Comparative Stylistics (CS ) were formed : the first was
based on the comparison of original and translated texts, the second – on the investigation
of similar features and differences in original texts.
Primarily, the subject of new discipline included the study of stylistic resources of the
compared languages, i.e. stylistically marked units of different language levels. One of
the founders of CS A.Malblanc singled out 2 stages of its development. At the first stage
the stylistic resources of languages are compared. At the second, which can be
characterized as functional-stylistic, genres and styles are studied, e.g. the means of
creating humor, satire etc.
Two directions of studies are determined: semasiological and onomasiological. In
semasiological research, comparison proceeds from language forms to their meanings
and functions. In onomasiological studies, the vector of analysis is opposite – from
meanings and functions to language forms which express these meanings and functions.
The semasiologically-oriented studies of compared languages involve similar forms,
like international morphemes hyper-, anti-// гіпер-, анті-, in this way revealing similar
or contrasting features in their meanings and functions. Such comparison can take place
only on the same language level – morphemes, lexemes, utterances.
While the onomasiological studies involve different levels, therefore comparative
stylistic investigations are onomasiologically-orienred. For example, such syntactical
repetition in English as Stop,stop,stop it! can be rendered by the Ukrainian lexical unit
with identical meaning :Припиніть нарешті!
According to O.Dubenko, the author of the first monograph on Comparative Stylistics
in this country, the subject of CS involves the study of both stylistic resources and
stylistic language facts of the compared languages, as well as the comparison of genres,
functional styles of different languages, individual styles. In this respect common features
and differences in stylistic systems of national languages are investigated.
CS is closely connected with such science as Theory of Translation. The results of
research can be used in both sciences.

2. English and Ukrainian Stylistics have both the same sources as their basis and different
sources.
a) The partial identity of the two stylistic systems results from the common historical and
cultural heritage. The persons, heroes and notions from the Greek and Roman
mythology is characterized by stable symbolic meaning:
Apollo// Аполлон; Aphrodite// Афродіта ; centaur // кентавр ; muse // муза ; nectar //
нектар.
Many metaphorical expressions and hence phraseological units are based on the themes
of the Ancient Greek mythology:
Procrustean bed –прокрустове ложе;
Augean stables – авгієві стайні;
Herculean labors – подвиги Геркулеса.
A considerable number of stable expressions originate in the culture, history of Ancient
Greece and Rome:
Platonic love – платонічна любов; the die is cast - жереб кинуто;
Pyrrhic victory - піррова перемога; to cross the Rubicon - перейти Рубікон.
The ancient culture influenced the development of art and literature in Britain, the
USA and Ukraine. W.Shakespeare, G.Byron, J.Joyce and other writers borrowed the plot,
the characters, the images from the ancient times. The Ukrainian prose and poetry were
also influenced by the ancient culture. The Greek and Latin languages, the Ancient
Rhetoric and Poetics were compulsory subjects in the schools of Ukraine, therefore the
images of the ancient art and literature became very popular and acquired an important
role in the Ukrainian culture. The names of the Greek and Roman gods, heroes, the
ancient place names were symbolic for the Ukrainian barocco, classicism, romanticism,
we can find these images and themes in the poems and novels by T.Shevchenko,
I.Kotlyarevsky, I.Franko. and other writers.
Another significant source of stylistic devices in the compared languages and cultures
is the Bible. In the British, American and Ukrainian cultural spaces the Biblical symbols,
metaphors, aphorisms are widely used not only in literary prose and poetry, but also in
the language of mass media, in the publicistic style, in everyday speech.
A lot of phraseological units have the Biblical origin:
the ten commandments – десять заповідей;
cast pearls before swine - розсипати перла перед свинями;
a wolf in sheep’s clothing – вовк в овечій шкурі.
He that is not with me is against me.
Хто не зі мною, той проти мене.
Some aphorisms from the Bible are so widespread that they are regarded as proverbs and
sayings:
No man can serve two masters. – Двом хазяям не наслужиш. = Двом богам ніколи не
моляться.
At the same time some Biblical expressions have different equivalents in English and
Ukrainian. Thus, a well-known English saying of the Biblical origin Spare the rod and spoil
the child has a non-Biblical parallel in Ukrainian: Дитину серцем люби, а руками гнети.
Another source of enriching the stylistic systems of the compared languages is the world
literature, its masterpieces:
ugly duckling ( H.Andersen ) –бридке каченя; knight of Rueful Countenance ( M.Servantes )
– лицар Сумного Образу.
An important basis of English Stylistics is the works of William Shakespeare. In spite
of the fact that Shakespearean quotations have enriched the stylistic systems of many languages,
it is exactly in the English language that the plays and sonnets of Shakespeare are the second
frequent after the Bible source of references.
A lot of Shakespearean expressions have become phraseological units, aphorisms, and even
sayings : green-eyed monster ( зеленооке чудовисько, ревнощі );
The time is out of joint.
I must be cruel only to be kind.
What’s in a name?
A horse! A horse! My kingdom for a horse!
Among the sources of English Stylistics is the literary heritage of the British and American
writers. Many quotations are the part of the British and American culture:
Nowadays people know the price of everything and the value of nothing ( O.Wilde).
O Captain! My Captain! Our fearful trip is done. ( W.Whitman )
In my beginning is my end. ( T.Eliot )
The Celtic mythology, the English fairy-tales are an essential element of the English culture.
As for Ukrainian Stylistics, its specific source is Old Slavic mythology. The names of gods,
pagan symbols have enriched our culture: Велес, Лада, Перун, древо життя, мертва вода, and
other words. Some words have acquired connotative, symbolic meanings due to mythological
contexts. For example, ластівка ( swallow) is associated with the harbinger of spring; голубка
(dove ) – with a girl, a beloved woman.
The elements of Ukrainian folklore have a special place in the Ukrainian culture. They enriched
the stylistic system with folk poetic symbols, traditional epithets, similes, metaphors: буйний
вітер, калинова мова, маків цвіт, білим світом нудити.
An important role in the formation of the Ukrainian stylistic system belongs to the literary and
scientific heritage of outstanding figures of our culture such as H.Skovoroda, T.Shevchenko,
I.Franko, M.Kotsyubynsky and others.

3. The vocabulary of every language consists of three layers, or parts: neutral, literary and
colloquial. The neutral layer is the most stable. There are other classifications of speech
styles.
One of them belongs to the American linguist V.Joos who presented the classification as
the hierarchy of five styles.
a) The frozen ( highly official, elevated )style. The typical communicative situations
for this style: solemn events, official ceremonies, court procedures, religious
services.
b) Formal ( official ) style. Scientific reports, special literature.
c) Consultative ( neutral ) style. Everyday situations of oral and written
communication. Shops, telephone calls, university classes.
d) Casual style. Communicative situations of rest, relaxation, entertainment.
e) Intimate style. Communication with close relatives, friends, beloved people.
The examples of the same idea in different styles.
Frozen style.
Visitors should make their way to the upper floor by way of staircase.
Formal style.

Visitors should go upstairs at once.


Consultative style.

Would you mind going upstairs right away, please?


Casual style.
Time you all went upstairs now.
Intimate style
Up you go, chaps!

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