Aim:

To study the stylistic features of a guide-book, and how these features are parodied in another text.

Method:

The vocabulary and structure of a tourist guide-book and a parody of guide-book style are analysed and compared.

Aim:

To make a linguistic description of the style of an extract from the novel.

Method:

The analysis focuses on,
(i) vocabulary, theme & imagery
(ii) semantic relationships between the participants
(iii) the relationship between syntax and style
(iv) 1st person story-telling and context of narrative situation

Aim:

To identify those features of vocabulary and grammatical structure in a 19th century translation of The Swiss Family Robinson which determine its “old-fashioned” style.

Method:

Selected vocabulary is studied for its derivations and dates of adoption into the language; synonyms are discussed and classified as core or non-core words. The sentence structures are analysed for relative complexity and the punctuation of the sentences is discussed. A later translation of the same extract is also provided for comparison.

Aim:

To continue the study of the stylistic effects of different choices of vocabulary and grammatical structure.

Method:

Extracts from two 19th century classic novels are discussed, together with a contrasting study of dialogue in Scots dialect.