Lecture 5 Functional Styles of the English Language Plan

 
Publicist style
is a perfect example of the historical changeability of stylistic 
differentiation of discourses. In ancient Greece, e.g., it was practiced mainly in its 
oral form and was best known as oratorical style, within which views and sentiments 
of the addresser (orator) found their expression. Nowadays political, ideological, 
ethical, social beliefs and statements of the addresser are prevailingly expressed in 
the written form, which was labelled publicist in accordance with the name of the 
corresponding genre and its practitioners. Publicist style is famous for its explicit 
pragmatic function of persuasion directed at influencing the reader and shaping his 
views, in accordance with the argumentation of the author. Correspondingly, we find 
in publicist style a blend of the rigorous logical reasoning, reflecting the objective 
state of things, and a strong subjectivity reflecting the author’s personal feelings and 
emotions towards the discussed subject. 
Characteristic features of the style: 
1 
The aim 
To form public opinion, to convince the reader or the 
listener. 
2 
Peculiar 
features 
Coherent and logical syntactical structure, with the 
expanded system of connectives and careful paragraphing. 
Emotional appeal is achieved by the use of words with 
emotive meaning and personal approach and persuasion. 
It is also characterized by brevity of expression which 
becomes epigrammatic in essays. 
3 
Grammatical 
and 
morphological 
features 
The use of first person singular in essays and second 
person in oratory and speeches are the characteristic 
morphological features.
4 
Syntactical 
features
The style implements syntactical structures which are 
predominant in essays and oratory and speeches, with the 
expanded system of connectives, careful paragraphing 

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with introduction and conclusion.
5 
Vocabulary 
In oratory, the special addressing and persuasive words 
and expressions are used. In essays it is characteristic to 
use first person singular to express personal viewpoint and 
the use of SDs to make the speech more attractive. 
Argumentative and emotional words in journalistic 
articles are used.
6 
Sub-styles 
Oratory and speeches 
Essays 
Journalistic articles