January 27, 2003

 

Features of style

"Style" is nearly synonymous with "register".

The term "register" comes from sociolinguistics; it includes primarily lexicon and syntax, and it is associated primarily with ordinary language use, especially spoken language.

The term "style" comes from literary theory, and thus (in addition to register features) it includes a number of "aesthetic" features such as sound and spelling; it's associated primarily with "artistic" (self-conscious, edited) uses of language, especially written language.

A style may include features at all of these levels:

Phonology: particular sound patterns, e.g. rhyme ("I like Ike!"), alliteration ("Testing pinpoints water woes"), assonance (words have the same vowel); casual vs. formal pronunciations ("runnin'" vs. "running"); etc.

Graphology: punctuation, fonts, layout (e.g. "H20"), "dialect spelling" (e.g. "wuz" for "was"), nonstandard uses of capitalization, "emoticons" :) etc.

Lexicon: choice of words, e.g. "dine" vs. "eat" etc.

Morphology: forms of words (prefixes and suffixes), e.g. nominalization ("reduction" from "reduce"), complex forms ("prevaricate" instead of "lie"), "learned plurals" ("indices" vs. "indexes"), etc.

Syntax: passive voice ("the student is requested to enroll" vs. "we request the student to enroll"), ellipsis (i.e. dropping words) in headlines ("Aircraft carrier shipping out"), etc.

Pragmatics: different ways of accomplishing the "same" communicative goal ("speech act"): "I wonder if you'd mind getting me a glass of water" vs. "Get me some water!", "Sincerely yours" vs. "Love" (at the end of a letter), etc.

Style features should match, or "strange" text results:

 

 

Personal ad data

Conventional

Classy Guy SWPM, 6'2, 195#, 38 y.o., handsome, succ. ISO an attr, fit, special lady, 25-36 to enjoy life with.

Midwestern Woman, 56, petite, independent, caring and spontaneous, love movies, lite opera, travelling, resting & nurturing. Should we meet?

Individual

Kiss me silly! 59 y.o. PDWM wants to keep it simple silly: you call, I call, you're sweet, we meet, I treat!

Jungle of love Ohh Tarzan where are U. SWF, 22 ISO sexy, strong, passionate SWM, 21-29. I dare U 2 enter my jungle.

Romantic

For your eyes only though these words may be read by many they are destined only for your eyes. It is only for you that I search and not another. I am sorry I made you wait for me, now I am here, waiting for you, waiting for my life to begin. You remember me, we had known each other in a previous life when we broke our hearts on separate stones. But not again. Now is our time for happiness. I am ready, early 40s.

One simple truth. Thinking less, feeling more. Doing less, being more. Fearing less, loving more. Tall, 40's WPF w/all the right adjectives longing for one beloved man 40-55 for play, passion, partnering. Take a risk and find your bliss.

Unconventional

People watcher: Do some of these ads seem a little much 4 U 2, let's laugh, SWF, 41 ISO SBM, 37-49 for fun.

Willing to lie about how me met? N/D, N/S, fit, humorous, newly single, 38, fun & active (a little stubborn).

Non nurdly academic conducting research (if there are so many men seeking women in the romance lines, why is it so difficult to meet men in Santa Barbara?) If you care to research, call me. WPF, 33, attr., fit and of course well edu. Looking for a tall, fit, attr and oh yes, drop dead gorgeous man who found the irony in this ad.