Microsoft Word Seminars on stylistics

Chapter III 
 
Syntactical Expressive Means and Stylistic Devices 
Compositional Patterns of Syntactical Arrangement 
 
Stylistic Inversion 
Word order has peculiarities in many languages. Therefore, the direct word 
order in Modern English is a well-known fact for everybody.
This word order is considered to be neutral and deprived of any stylistic 
information. Nevertheless, according to the writers aim the word order may be 
changed in the sentence after which the emphasis springs up.
e.g.:
“Rude am I in my speech (Shakespeare) - the speech is emphasized. 
Therefore, inversion must be regarded as an expressive means of the language 
having typical structural models.
The chief stylistic function of inversion
 
to single out some parts of the sentence and 
sometimes to heighten the emotional tension. 
to add emotional colouring to the utterance
to put stress on one of the parts of the sentence, 
which is significant.
Stylistic 
Inversion 
The violation of the traditional word order of 
the sentence after which does not alter the 
meaning of the sentence only giving it an 
additional emotional colouring

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Task 1. Reveal the linguistic nature of inversion. Define the 
functions of the stylistic device
: 
1. Below me in the sun and shade lay the old house… (Dickens). 
2. How have I implored and begged that man to inquire into Captain’s family 
connections; how have I urged and entreated him to take some decisive step. 
(Dickens). 
3. And we sang a song about a gypsy’s life and how delightful a gypsy’s life was. 
(J. K. Jerome). 
4. Scattered about the boat, in dreamy and reposeful attitudes lay five fellows.
(J. K. Jerome). 
5. Into the society come soniavan der Merne when her husband had been three 
years in prison. (M. Spillane). 
6. To instruct him was difficult, to have checked him would have been 
unthinkable. So Mor continued to be irritated.(I. Murdoch). 
7. Through the window was visible a small piece of the garden ,some trees, and 
above the trees in the far distance the tower of the school. In front of demoyte 
stood a table spread with books and papers.(I. Murdoch). 
8. And fast into the perilous gulf of night walked Bosiney, and fast after him 
walked George. (Galsworthy)