Chapter 12: Styles, Registers, Genres, Text Types
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Claudia Claridge
Abstract
The chapter surveys research on registers, styles, text types and genres in the history of English. The presence of registers is connected with sociocultural conditions, such as the structure of society, multilingualism, the practice of translation, academic traditions, and technological progress. The legal and the scientific registers are described in more detail. The stylistic development of English is treated here as linked to standardization (elaboration in syntax and lexicon) and the orality-literacy continuum (increasing development of more literate characteristics). The curial style of the 14th/15th century and the plain style of the 17th century are highlighted. Three approaches to genre and to text types are presented. Inventories of genre labels highlight the presence, nature and development of genres throughout English history. Changes in texts, and genres across periods can also be studied through looking at their conventional structure (e.g. letters) or their linguistic features (e.g. discourse deixis). Lastly, text types/genres can also play a role in language change.
Abstract
The chapter surveys research on registers, styles, text types and genres in the history of English. The presence of registers is connected with sociocultural conditions, such as the structure of society, multilingualism, the practice of translation, academic traditions, and technological progress. The legal and the scientific registers are described in more detail. The stylistic development of English is treated here as linked to standardization (elaboration in syntax and lexicon) and the orality-literacy continuum (increasing development of more literate characteristics). The curial style of the 14th/15th century and the plain style of the 17th century are highlighted. Three approaches to genre and to text types are presented. Inventories of genre labels highlight the presence, nature and development of genres throughout English history. Changes in texts, and genres across periods can also be studied through looking at their conventional structure (e.g. letters) or their linguistic features (e.g. discourse deixis). Lastly, text types/genres can also play a role in language change.
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Table of Contents V
- Abbreviations VII
- Chapter 1: Introduction 1
- Chapter 2: Periodization in the History of the English Language 8
- Chapter 3: Phonology 36
- Chapter 4: Prosody 57
- Chapter 5: Morphology 77
- Chapter 6: Syntax 102
- Chapter 7: Semantics and Lexicon 123
- Chapter 8: Idioms and Fixed Expressions 140
- Chapter 9: Pragmatics and Discourse 165
- Chapter 10: Onomastics 185
- Chapter 11: Orthography 200
- Chapter 12: Styles, Registers, Genres, Text Types 218
- Chapter 13: Standards in the History of English 238
- Index 253
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Table of Contents V
- Abbreviations VII
- Chapter 1: Introduction 1
- Chapter 2: Periodization in the History of the English Language 8
- Chapter 3: Phonology 36
- Chapter 4: Prosody 57
- Chapter 5: Morphology 77
- Chapter 6: Syntax 102
- Chapter 7: Semantics and Lexicon 123
- Chapter 8: Idioms and Fixed Expressions 140
- Chapter 9: Pragmatics and Discourse 165
- Chapter 10: Onomastics 185
- Chapter 11: Orthography 200
- Chapter 12: Styles, Registers, Genres, Text Types 218
- Chapter 13: Standards in the History of English 238
- Index 253
