functional style it as a system of expressive means peculiar to a specific sphere of communication. By the sphere of communication we mean the circumstances attending the process of speech in each particular case. All these circumstances or situations can be roughly classified into two types: formal a lecture, an official letter and informal an informal talk, an intimate letter.
Accordingly, functional styles are classified into two groups, with further subdivisions depending on different situations.
Basic Vocabulary
These words are stylistically neutral, and, in this respect, opposed to formal and informal words described above. Their stylistic neutrality makes it possible to use them in all kinds of situations, both formal and informal, in verbal and written communication.
Basic vocabulary. These words are stylistically neutral, and opposed to formal and informal words. Their stylistic neutrality makes it possible to use them in all kinds of situations, both formal and informal, in verbal and written communication. These are words without which no human communication would be possible as they denote objects and phenomena of everyday importance. --
Informal Style
Informal vocabulary is used in one's immediate circle: family, relatives or friends. One uses informal words when at home or when feeling at home.
Informal style is relaxed, free-and-easy, familiar and unpretentious. But it should be pointed out that the informal talk of well-educated people considerably differs from that of the illiterate or the semi-educated; the choice of words with adults is different from the vocabulary of teenagers; people living in the provinces use certain regional words and expressions. Informal words and word-groups are traditionally divided into three types: colloquial, slang and dialect words and word-groups.
Colloquial Words
Among other informal words, colloquialisms are the least exclusive: they are used by everybody, and their sphere of communication is comparatively wide, at least of literary colloquial words. These are informal words that are used in everyday conversational speech both by cultivated and uneducated people of all age groups. The sphere of communication of literary colloquial words also includes the printed page, which shows that the term "colloquial" is somewhat inaccurate.
Slang is the use of informal words and expressions that are not considered standard in the speaker's language or dialect but are considered acceptable in certain social settings.
Dialect Wordsa variety of a language which prevails in a district, with local peculiarities of vocabulary, pronunciation and phrase". So dialects are regional forms of English. Dialectal peculiarities, especially those of vocabulary, are constantly being incorporated into everyday colloquial speech or slang
Formal Style
We have already pointed out that formal style is restricted to formal situations. In general, formal words fall into two main groups: words associated with professional communication and a less exclusive group of so-called learned words.
Learned Words
These words are mainly associated with the printed page. It is in this vocabulary stratum that poetry and fiction find their main resources.
