Functional Styles. Афанасьева Н.Р - 8 стр.

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15
UNIT 3
THE STYLE OF OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS
This style is not homogeneous and is represented by four major
substyles. The scheme below (illustrated by sample texts) graphically
shows what variants it consists of:
The Style of Official Documents
Legal Documents Business Documents
Documents of Diplomacy Military Documents
The Style of Official Documents
From Laws of War: General Orders No. 100
INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE
GOVERNMENT OF ARMIES OF THE
UNITED STATES IN THE FIELD
Prepared by Francis Lieber, promulgated by
President Lincoln, 24 April 1863.
SECTION III
Deserters - Prisoners of war - Hostages -
Booty on the battle-field.
Art. 48. Deserters from the American Army,
having entered the service of the enemy,
suffer death if they fall again into the hands of
the United States, whether by capture, or
being delivered up to the American Army;
and if a deserter from the enemy, having
taken service in the Army of the United
States, is captured by the enemy, and pun-
ished by them with death
3 March, 1918:
The Peace Treaty
of Brest-Litovsk
Article I. Germany, Aus-
tria-Hungary, Bulgaria,
and Turkey, for the one
part, and Russia, for the
other part, declare that
the state of war between
them has ceased. They
are resolved to live hence-
forth in peace and amity
with one another.
Article II. The contract-
ing parties will refrain
from any agitation or
propaganda against the
Government and
This is the last will
and testament…
Invoice to:
SMITH & JONES LTD
Quantity Description
1. Cleaning and
p
aintin
g
two rooms
£750
16
Function
stating conditions binding two parties in an
undertaking and reaching agreement between them
Features
use of words in logical dictionary meaning special
system of cliches, terms, set expressions
use of terminological nomenclature
no emotive words retaining their original meaning
special obligatory forms of address, opening and
concluding
encoded character of language: use of abbrevia-
tions (M.P.) and conventional symbols ($)
non-flexible compositional design
fixed paragraphing
restricted choice of syntactical patterns
grammar and punctuation depending on the pattern
(combining several pronouncements into one sen-
tence)
PRACTICE
1. As you can see from the chart above, the communicative function
of any official document is to define the conditions of the rela-
tions between two or more parties. Scan the following text and say
which parties are in question here.
THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED
STATES
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a
more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquil-
ity, provide for the common defense, promote the general Wel-
fare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our
Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United
States of America.
UNIT 3




                                                                                                                                   Function
                                                                                                                                                                                            Features




                                                                                         undertaking and reaching agreement between them
THE STYLE OF OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS                                                                                                                 • use of words in logical dictionary meaning special




                                                                                            stating conditions binding two parties in an
                                                                                                                                                system of cliches, terms, set expressions
      This style is not homogeneous and is represented by four major                                                                            • use of terminological nomenclature
substyles. The scheme below (illustrated by sample texts) graphically                                                                           • no emotive words retaining their original meaning
shows what variants it consists of:                                                                                                             • special obligatory forms of address, opening and
                      The Style of Official Documents                                                                                           concluding
                                                                                                                                                • encoded character of language: use of abbrevia-
Legal Documents                                         Business Documents                                                                      tions (M.P.) and conventional symbols ($)
       Documents of Diplomacy                  Military Documents                                                                               • non-flexible compositional design
                                                                                                                                                • fixed paragraphing
                                  Invoice to:                                                                                                   • restricted choice of syntactical patterns
                                            SMITH & JONES LTD                                                                                   • grammar and punctuation depending on the pattern
         This is the last will
     and testament…                                                                                                                             (combining several pronouncements into one sen-
                                  Quantity Description                                                                                          tence)
  3 March, 1918:                  1. Cleaning and                 £750
  The Peace Treaty                   painting two rooms
  of Brest-Litovsk
  Article I. Germany, Aus-         From Laws of War: General Orders No. 100
                                                                                                             PRACTICE
  tria-Hungary,     Bulgaria,          INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE
  and Turkey, for the one           GOVERNMENT OF ARMIES OF THE
  part, and Russia, for the
                                                                                       1. As you can see from the chart above, the communicative function
                                     UNITED STATES IN THE FIELD
  other part, declare that                                                                of any official document is to define the conditions of the rela-
  the state of war between         Prepared by Francis Lieber, promulgated by             tions between two or more parties. Scan the following text and say
  them has ceased. They                       President Lincoln, 24 April 1863.
                                                                                          which parties are in question here.
  are resolved to live hence-      SECTION III
  forth in peace and amity
                                    Deserters - Prisoners of war - Hostages -
  with one another.                                                                                                                           THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED
                                           Booty on the battle-field.
  Article II. The contract-
  ing parties will refrain         Art. 48. Deserters from the American Army,                                                                                STATES
  from any agitation or            having entered the service of the enemy,
  propaganda against the           suffer death if they fall again into the hands of          We the People of the United States, in Order to form a
  Government and                   the United States, whether by capture, or
                                   being delivered up to the American Army;            more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquil-
The Style of Official Documents    and if a deserter from the enemy, having            ity, provide for the common defense, promote the general Wel-
                                   taken service in the Army of the United             fare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our
                                   States, is captured by the enemy, and pun-
                                   ished by them with death                            Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United
                                                                                       States of America.

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