Stylistic Classification of the English Vocabulary

1. General considerations. In order to get a more or less idea of the word - stock of any language, it must be presented as a system, the elements of which are interconnected, interrelated and yet independent. The word - stock of a language is a definite system in which different aspects of words may be singled out as interdependent. Inaccordance with the division of language into literary and colloquial, we may represent the whole of the word - stock of the English language as being divided into three main layers: the literary layer, the neutral layer and the colloquial layer.

The literary and the colloquial layers contain a number of subgroups each of which has a property it shares with all the subgroups within the layer. This common property, which unites the different groups of words within the layer, may be called its aspect. The aspect of the literary layer is its markedly bookish character. It is this that makes the layer more or less stable. The aspect of the colloquial layer of words is its lively spoken character. It is this that makes it unstable, fleeting.

The aspect of the neutral layer is its universal character. That means it is unrestricted in its use. It can be employed in all styles of language and in all spheres of human activity. The literary layer of words consists of groups accepted as legitimate members of the English vocabulary. They have no local or dialectal character.

The colloquial layer of words as qualified in most English or American dictionaries is not infrequently limited to a definite language community or confine to a special locality where it circulates. (I.R. Galperin)

The literary vocabulary consists of the following groups of words: