Арсений (-)1
PUBLICISTIC STYLE
According to I.R. Galperin, a functional style of language is a system of interrelated language means that serves a definite aim in communication. Each functional style is characterized by a unique combination of the language means and different stylistic devices which shapes its distinctive character. Functional styles appear mainly in the literary standard of the language. Style of language is a historical category.
The English literary system has evolved a number of functional styles. According to most common classification functional styles of the English language are: 1) Official (documents and papers); 2)
Scientific (articles, scientific publications); 3) Publicistic (essay, public speech, radio and TV messages, news programs, etc.); 4) Newspaper style (journalistic articles (political, social, economic) in newspapers, journals and magazines); 5) Belles-lettres style (genre of creative writing). Each of mentioned here styles can be expressed in two forms: written and oral, and has a number of subvarieties.
According to some other classifications, newspaper style is not endowed with autonomous status and is considered a sub style within the more general publicistic functional style.
The publicistic style of language became a separate style in the middle of the 18th century.
The publicistic style is used in public speeches and printed public works which are addressed to a broad audience and devoted to important social or political events, public problems of cultural or moral character. The general aim of the publicist style is to exert influence on public opinion, to convince the reader or the listener that the interpretation given by the writer or the speaker is the only correct one and to cause him to accept the point of view expressed in the speech, essay or article not merely by logical argumentation, but by emotional appeal as well. Thus, publicistic style is famous for its explicit pragmatic function of persuasion directed at influencing the reader in accordance with the argumentation of the author. This brain-washing function is most effective in oratory, for here the most powerful instrument of persuasion is brought into play: the human voice.