ABC in Techniques

of Stylistics Analysis

A Practical Approach to
Descriptive Grammar
from Clause to Text Structure
 How to use the material
Wright, L. et al.:Stylistics:A Practical Course book

1.Reading carefully the guide to the course

book.
2.Do the task set based on each text.
3.Pay attention to the frequency of some
linguistic features.
4.Pay attention to some abnormal features.
5.Think over the purpose of the author.
6.Think over the point of view of the author.
7.Consult the “solution” and the “verdict”.
 References
Crystal, D.:Investigating English Style
Halliday:Descriptive Linguistics in Literary Studies
Leech, G.:Style in Fiction
Leech, G.:A Linguistic Guide to English Poetry
Peer, W.:Stylistics and Psychology
Widdowson, H.et al.:Style and the Teaching of
literature
The significance of the course

1.Arts as means of human expression

2.Literature as a mirror of society
3.Language as a mirror of thought
4.Language as a carrier of culture
5.Style as a means of expressing
thoughts and feelings of the author
Suggested Format of Course Paper

I. Abstract
II. Key words
III. Body
1. Brief account of the author
2. Brief account of the essay
3. Major theme of the essay
4. Linguistic presentation of the theme
a. Lexical features
b. Syntactic features
c. Phonological features
d. Semantic features/figures of speech
5. Conclusion
IV. Reference
 Format of Reference
• 主要参考文献条目排列顺序如下：
• [ 序号 ] 作者 . 文献题名 [ 文献类型标识 ]*.( 出版地 :)
• 出版者，出版年 . 起始页码 . 例：

• Reference:
• [1]Levinson, S. Pragmatics [M]. Cambridge:
• Cambridge University Press, 1983. 15-20.
• [2] 方永德 . 美国英语中的种族贬语 [J]. 外国语，
• 1995(1):68-72.

• * 参考文献类型标识：
• [N] 报纸文章； [J] 期刊文章； [M] 专著；
• [D] 学位论文； [C] 论文集；
 Contents

1. The Noun Phrase

2. The Verb Phrase
3. The Clause
4. Text Structure
5. Vocabulary
 The Noun Phrase (1)

I.Introduction: structure of the noun phrase:

1.determiner and or enumerator
2.pre-head modification
3.head noun
4.post-head modification
5.pronouns
II. Pre-modification:
1.Definition
2.Examples
III. Practical work on pre-modification:
Identify pre-modifiers in the noun phrase
of the texts and relate the findings to the
subject of the text: what is their purpose?
Test 1
1.the amount of pre-modifiers
2.the size of the noun phrase
3.use of proper nouns:
Louis, Pompadour (lover of Louis XV of France),
Regency 英国 1810-1830 年的摄政时期 ,
4.technical terms:
shag 粗毛 , gilt, marquetry, Boulle, 镶嵌细工
5.use of modifiers of Latin origin:
ecru 米色 . Bohemian 吉普赛人的
6.unmodified treatment of verbs
7.narrator’s attitude towards Dorrie
Text 2
1.high frequency of the third-person pronoun

“she”
2.modifiers devoted to the narrator’s opinion:
3.modifiers devoted to the lady’s opinion:
4.narrator’s negative attitude towards the
lady.
IV. Post-modification:
1.Definition
2.Function:
To supply additional minor message, as
done by non-restrictive clause.
V. Practical work on post-modification:
Identify post-modifiers in the noun phrase
of the text and relate the findings to the
subject of the text: what is their purpose?
Text 3
1.high frequent of trade names:
De Bry, Chemex, French Marans, Tiptree “
Little Scarlet”, Cooper’s Vintage Oxford,
Norwegian Heather Honey, Fortnum’s,
Queen Annue, Minton
 The Noun Phrase (2)

I. Articles:
1.definite articles
2.indefinite articles
II. Practical work on articles:
1.Identify the articles in the texts.
2.Identify the part of extract where a
repetitive syntactic pattern of articles is
to be found.
3.Comment on the according stylistic effect.
III.Pronouns: denoting first-person singular
IV. Practical work on pronouns denoting the
first-person singular:
Identify and explain the shifts of usage of
pronouns in the text.
V. Pronouns: denoting the first-person plural
VI. Practical work on pronouns denoting the
first-person plural:
Identify the use of we referring to
inclusive, exclusive, or singular or plural in
the text and relate the findings to the
subject of the text: what is their purpose?
 The Noun Phrase (3)

I. Pronouns: the second person (1):

    you used to address one person
    you used to address more persons
effect of the referent of you in actual usage.
II. Practical work on the use of you:
1.Identify the cases of pronoun your in the text
to see whether they have the same reference.
2.Explain the shifts in usage within the text
III. Pronouns: the second person (2):
1. you used to refer to any or all people
in an unspecific way
2. you used to refer to speaks themselves
in an impersonal way
IV. Identify the cases of pronoun you in the
text to see whether they have the same
reference:
  1. singular, specific person
    2. plural, specific person
    3. general, direct address
    4. general, unspecific address
 The Verb Phrase (1)

I.Introduction:the structure of the verb

phrase:
1.main verb
2.auxiliary
3.negative particles
4.tense
5.finite verb phrases
6.non-finite verb phrases
II.Narrative time, story time and tense
 1.Identify the times of narrating, narrative,
and internal time relationships in the text.
2.Does tense correlate with time in English?
IV. Simple and compound verb phrases:
Definition
V. Practical work on simple and compound
verb phrases:
1.Identify the verb phrases in the text.
2. Are they simple or compound, finite or
non-finite? What are the time-schemes?
 The Verb Phrase (2)

I. Uses of the present tense:

       habitual action
       general truth
       narration of past events
       as-it-happens narrative future
II. Identify the present-tense forms in the
text to see whether they are habitual,
general truth, simple present, or be +
-ing. How do they pattern?
III. The passive:
Definition
IV. Practical work on simple and compound
verb phrases:
Identify the passive verb construction in
the text to see what or who is the
subject of the verb.
V. The imperative:
Definition
VI. Practical work on the imperatives:
Identify the imperatives in the text to see
their force and function.
 The Verb Phrase (3)

I. Non-finite verb forms: ‘to+ base’ form

(the infinitive)
1.Definition
2. ‘to + be + past participle’ form
3. ‘to + have + past participle’ form
II. Practical work on the ‘to+ base’ forms:
1.Identify the ‘to+ base’ forms in a
given text.
2.What is their effect when used in non-
finite sentences.
III. Non-finite verb forms: ‘-ing’ forms:
IV. Practical work on the ‘-ing’ forms:
1.Identify the‘-ing’ forms in the text.
2.What is their effect when used in non-
finite sentences.
V. Non-finite verb forms: time and tense:
VI. Practical work on time and tense
denoted by non-finite verb forms:
1.Identify the finite and non-finite verb
phrases in the text.
2.What is the relationship between tense
and/or finiteness and time?
 The Clause (1)

I. Introduction to syntax:
a. Subject NP + VP + X
b. Subject NP + VP + X (O/ C NP)
c. Subject NP + VP + X (O/ C AdjP)
d. X (Av) + NP + VP
e. NP + VP + X (Av)
f. NP + VP
g. NP + VP + X (O/C) + Av
h. VP
 1.information: given and new
2.simple sentence
3.coordination
4.subordination
II. Analyzing clause structure:
Definition
III. Practical work on clause structure:
1.Identify in the text the sentences
with a similar grammatical structure.
2.Comment on the stylistic effect.
 The Clause (2)

I. The relationship between S and V:

       S V X (O C)
     X V S
       S V X (C O)
II. Practical work on the relationship
between S and V:
1.Identify in the text the types of things
that are placed in S position.
2.What are their relationships to V?
III. Relative size of syntactic elements: light
X elements:
IV. Practical work on the relative size of
syntactic elements: light X elements:
Identify in the text the S and X elements
and compare their relative size.
V. Obligatory X elements (transitivity)
VI. Practical work on obligatory X elements:
1.Identify in the text the verbs
2.Are they purely transitive, or can they
be used with or without X?
 The Clause (3)

I. Expansion of X elements:
II. Practical work on expansion of X
elements:
1.Describe in the text the S V X distribution.
2.Comment on the stylistic effect.
III. Heavy S and X elements before the verb:
IV. Practical work on heavy S and X
elements before the verb:
 Identify in the text the preverbal S and
X elements. What is their effect?
V. Placement of adverbials in the clause:
VI. Practical work on the placement of
adverbials in the clause:
1.Identify in the text the adverbial
elements.
2.Can you find some in an abnormal
position.
3.Account for their effect.
 The Clause (4)

I. Main clauses
II. Practical work on main clause:
1.Identify in the text the frequent use of
sentences with only main clause.
2.Relate the findings to the literary
effect the author expects to produce.
III. Coordination:
IV. Practical work on coordination:
1.Identify the patterns of clause linkage
in the text.
 2.Which is the most frequent pattern?
3.What is the according stylistic effect?
V. Subordination and the sentence:
VI. Practical work on subordination and
the sentence:
1.Identify and separate the sentences
and clauses in the text.
2.What correlation do you find between
these things?
3. Comment on the way the text is
patterned.
 The clause (5)
I. Ambiguity in syntax:
II. Practical work on ambiguity in syntax:
1.Spot in the text the ambiguities.
2.Can you see any other marked
linguistic features that suggest why the
author write ambiguously?
III. Prepositions:
IV. Practical work on prepositions:
1.Identify in the text the prepositions.
2.What are their functions and purpose?
V. Interrogatives:
VI. Practical work on interrogatives:
1.Identify in the text the questions.
2.To whom are they addressed and
what is their function?
3.Identify in a given text of third-
person narration the questions.
4.What is the effect created by the use
of interrogative structure?
 Text Structure (1)

I. Introduction to text structure:

cohesion and coherence
1.Difference in notion between
cohesion and coherence
2.Kinds of cohesive devices
3.Coherence: structural mimicry/
predictability of form
II. Information structure: given to new
III. Practical work on information structure:
1.Analyze the text the informational
structure in terms of given and new,
pronoun replacement, expansion and
reduction of noun phrases.
2.How does this fit with the stylistic effect
of the text? (For example, follow through
subsequent mentions of proper names –
what kind of structures do they appear in
first, and what subsequently?)
IV. Ellipsis:
1.Definition
2.Examples:
V. Practical work on ellipsis:
1.Identify in the text the ellipsis.
2.To what extent are they a product
of the type of language being
represented, and to what extent do
they constitute a deliberate stylistic
effect by the writer?
 Text Structure (2)

I. Practical work on cohesion and coherence:

1.Spot in the text the features of cohesion
and coherence.
2.What are the effects of the way the
information is presented in each case?
II. Coherent models: thought
III. Practical work on structure of thought:
1.Identify in the text the structure of
thought.
 2.Are the elements linked by cohesion or
coherence?
IV. Coherent models: other languages
Definition
V. Practical work on the structure of other
languages:
1.Identify in the text the departure from
expected English grammar and text
structure under the influence of other
languages.
2.Suggest why the writer may have made
use of them?
VI. Coherent models: speech
1.Speech syntax: intercalated clauses
2.Speech syntax: coordination and
relative clauses
VII. Practical work on the structure of
speech:
1.Identify in the text the patterns of
clause linkage and the relatives.
2.Comment on the purpose of the
author in using these patterns.
 Vocabulary (1)

I. Introduction to vocabulary:
1.Contributing factors to current English
2.Sources of current English
a.       Ancient Greek
b.       Latin
c.       Old French
d.       Old German
e.       Old Norse
f.        French
II. Register: use of romance vocabulary
III. Practical work on the use of romance
vocabulary
1.Identify in the text the romance
vocabulary.
2.What is its effect?
IV. Register: use of ‘long’ words
V. Practical work on the use of ‘long’ words:
1.Identify in the text the questions.
2.Comment on the effect.
 Vocabulary (2)

I. Word-formation: bound morphemes

Definition:
a. free morphemes
b. bound morphemes
II. Practical work on bound morphemes:
1.Spot in a given text the unfamiliar words.
2.How are they constructed? What is their
effect?
III. Romance:
IV. Practical work on Romance:
1.Identify in the text the Romance
vocabulary.
2.What is its purpose?
V. Semantic fields::
VI. Practical work on semantic fields:
1.Identify in the text the semantic fields.
2. What is the effect created by the use
of words of the given semantic fields?
 Vocabulary (3)

I. Collocation:
1.Definition
2.Examples
II. Practical work on collocation:
1.Spot in a the text the words you
expect in collocation, and those you
don’t.
2.Can you account for the patterns of
expected or unexpected collocations?
III. Synonyms:
1.the distinction of synonyms on the
basis of their reference
2.the distinction of synonyms on the
basis of their register:
a. More formal words
b. Less formal words
IV. Practical work on synonyms:
1. Substitute some synonyms for the
adjectives or verbs in a given text..
2.Can you account for the effect thus
created?