What will we learn in this topic?
GENERAL
In this topic we will begin to learn about style and style variation.
Because it is easiest to 'see' a style when it contrasts with other styles,
Session A will concentrate on variations in style within particular texts
and the meanings and effects which style variation can produce. Then,
in Session B, we will look at authorial styles, and how they are created
linguistically, in more detail.
This topic also forms the 'bridge' between the stylistic analysis of
poetry, which we have concentrated on so far, and the stylistic analysis
of prose. In Session A we will look at examples from poetry and prose.
In session B we will concentrate almost entirely on prose, which will
then become the main focus for the next few Topics of the course.
Session A
We will explore two main aspects of language variation, dialect and register.
Dialects are semi-permanent language varieties associated with particular
groups of people. Registers are variations in our language that are much
more rapid. Compare the way we speak when chatting to close friends with
how we speak when talking to someone we think of as important and/or are
in awe of. We may use a number of language registers in one day, or even
one hour of one day.
 Printer
friendly version of notes for Topic 6
|
