INTRODUCTION 1
Chapter 1 LANGUAGE VARIETIES 8
1.1 Theoretical aspects of language variation 8
1.2 Classification of varieties of English 10
Chapter 2 USER-RELATED VARIETIES 12
2.1 Dialects and Standard English 12
2.1.1 Regional (geographical) dialect 12
2.1.1.1 Dialectal features at the phonological/graphetic level 17
2.1.1.2 Dialectal features at the lexical level 17
2.1.1.3 Dialectal features at the grammatical/syntactic level 18
2.1.2.1 Relation between regional and social dialects 19
2.1.2 Social dialect 19
2.1.2.2 Sex-related variations 25
2.1.2.3 Black English 27
2.1.3 Individual dialect-idiolect 32
2.1.4 Temporal dialect 39
2.1.4.1 Graphetic/phonetic differences 40
2.1.4.2 Lexical differences 40
2.1.4.3 Grammatical/syntactic differences 41
2.1.5 Standard English 44
2.1.5.1 Standard British English vs.Standard American English 45
2.2 Dialect and literature 52
Chapter 3 MEDIUM-RELATED VARIETIES 60
3.1 Speech and writing 60
3.2 Classification 61
3.3 Main differences between spoken and written English 62
3.3.1 Channel limitation and linguistic explicitness 63
3.3.2 Spontaneity 66
3.3.2.1 Fluency 66
3.3.2.2 Vocabulary 69
3.3.2.3 Syntax 71
3.3.2.4 Semantics 73
3.3.3 Addresser-addressee interaction 75
3.3.4 Formality and informality 77
3.3.5 Speech in fiction 81
4.1 Degrees of formality or informality 90
Chapter 4 ATTITUDE-RELATED VARIETIES 90
4.1.1 Formality-informality scale 91
4.1.2 Linguistic markers indicating formality or informality 94
4.1.2.1 Inphonology/graphology 94
4.1.2.2 In lexis 95
4.2 Degrees of politeness or familiarity 98
4.2.1 Intonation pattern 99
4.2.2 Addressing terms,greetings,farewells 99
4.2.3 Word choice 101
4.2.4 Grammatical/syntactic features 101
4.2.4.1 Shortened questions and ellipses 101
4.2.4.2 Exclamatory questions 101
4.2.4.4 “Could”,“ might” “would” 102
4.2.4.3 “Will+progressive”construction 102
4.3 Degrees of impersonality 103
4.3.1 The passive voice 103
4.3.2 Anticipatory“it” 105
4.3.3 Nominalization 105
4.4 Degrees of intelligibility 106
Chapter 5 FUNCTION-RELATED VARIETIES 109
5.1 Functions of language 109
5.1.1 Referential function 110
5.1.1.1 Information and direction signs 110
5.1.1.2 Notices 113
5.1.1.3 The language of news reporting 115
5.1.1.4 The language of EST 153
5.2 Conative(evocative)function 175
5.2.1 The language of advertising 175
5.2.1.1 At the phonetic/phonological level 182
5.2.1.2 At the graphitic/graphological level 184
5.2.1.3 At the lexical level 186
5.2.1.4 At the grammatical/syntactic level 198
5.2.1.5 At the semantic level 205
5.2.2 The language of public address 211
5.2.2.1 Analysis of Martin Luther King s speech 212
5.2.2.2 Analysis of Kennedy s Inaugural address 220
5.2.2.3 Analysis of MacArthur s Farewell speech 227
5.3 Directive function 233
5.3.1 The language of directions and instructions 234
5.3.2 The language of legal document 236
5.3.2.1 At the graphitic/graphological level 238
5.3.2.2 At the lexical level 239
5.3.2.3 At the grammatical/syntactic level 241
5.3.2.4 At the semantic level 243
5.4 Emotive(expressive)function 244
5.5 Phatic function 246
5.6 Poetic function 247
5.7 Metalingual function 250
5.8 Performative function 251
6.1 The language of poetry-acase study 254
chapter 6 LITERATURE-RELATED VARIETIES 254
6.1.1 Rhyme and rhythm 255
6.1.2 Imagery 256
6.1.3 Figurative language 256
6.1.4 Symbolism 257
6.1.5 Interpretation 258
6.2 The language of fiction-acase study 259
6.2.1 At the lexical level 262
6.2.2 At the syntactic level 264
6.2.3 At the semantic level 264
Bibliography 268