F SUN GÖKDO ANİ Ğ

ELEMENTS OF LANGUAGE & STYLE

1. How language works ?

2. Oral style and written style

3. The Humorous style

HOW LANGUAGE WORKS ?

It offers four general principles of language:

DirectnessAbstraction ObjectivityFormality

1. Language Varies in Directness

Consider the following sentences :

ATTENTION :

The style of direct sentence should be active (rather than passive) and personal (rather than impersonal )

Use personal pronouns and personal references Refer to your audience as “ you” rather than “

the audience” or “my listeners”

After this rules, Your speech should be relaxed and direct.

2. Language Varies in Abstraction

3. Language Varies in Objectivity

The best way to explain how language varies in objectivity is to introduce two new terms :

Denotation&

Connatation

*Objectivity :the state or quality of being objective

a. Denotation

The denotative meaning of a term is its objective meaning, which is the meaning that you would find in a dictionary that points to specific references.

o “ Dictionary meaning “

For example: the denotation of a word book is , “ the actual book , a collection of pages bound

together between two covers.”

b. Connotation

Connotative meaning , however , is different. The Connotative meaning is our affective,

emotional meaning for the term.

For example: the word “ book “ It may signify boredom or excitement. It may recall the textbook you have to read or

the novel that you cannot put down.

Consider the following word :

“ politicians “ may mean to some people : poorly paid public servant

who take abuse from the people they represent. ( and thus be very positive )

may mean to some people : self-serving, money-grubbing individuals who live off the taxpayer’s money. ( and thus be extremely negative )

!!! Consider the audience’s evaluation of your key term before using them in a speech. If there is any doubt, select another word or qualify word to make clear exactly what you wish to communicate

4. Language Varies in Formality Consider the following sentences :

ATTENTION :

!!! Use comman words but avoid slang.

!!! Use informal constructions but avoid forms that your audience would consider incorrect.

SUMMARY

There are 4 principles for how language works.1. Directness : you should make direct sentences

to your audiences2. Abstraction : you should use the items more

specific, less abstract.3. Objectivity: you should be sure what you want

to mean.4. Formality: you should speak at a level a bit

more formal but with comprehensible construction and words.

for listening to me &

for your attendance to lesson