Find a conversational style. Conversational style: concept, signs, examples of parsing

All book styles of the Russian literary language are opposed to the colloquial style. Conversational style serves the sphere of easy communication of people in everyday life, in the family, in transport, the sphere of informal relations in production. The main function of colloquial speech is communication, a direct and unconstrained exchange of thoughts, feelings, desires between communicants.

The main extralinguistic features of the colloquial style of speech are informality, informality, spontaneity and unpreparedness speech act. The sender and recipient of the speech are directly involved in the conversation, often changing places.

The main form of implementation of the conversational style is oral speech, although it can also be manifested in writing (informal letters, diaries, notes).

An important role in oral colloquial speech is reliance on pragmatic conditions of communication (environment, situation, purpose and objectives of communication), as well as non-verbal means of communication (facial expressions, gestures).

Colloquial speech is also characterized by a high degree expressiveness, emotionality, evaluative reaction, which is associated with the informal nature of communication.

The extralinguistic features of colloquial speech are associated with its most common linguistic features, such as standardization, stereotyping, discontinuity, inconsistency, incomplete structure, sentence breaks with various insertions, repetitions of words and sentences, the use of emotionally and expressively colored language means.

Conversational informal communication is carried out between people who know each other well in a particular situation. Therefore, communicants have a certain common stock of knowledge, which is called background knowledge. It is background knowledge that makes it possible to build such reduced statements in colloquial communication that are completely incomprehensible outside of this knowledge. Let's say your family knows that you went to take the exam. And when you joyfully return and say one word - “great!” - it becomes clear to everyone what is at stake.

Spoken speech is realized in conditions of direct communication, therefore everything that is given by the situation, that is known to the communicants and that constitutes a common stock of background knowledge for them, is usually omitted from speech. So, A.M. Peshkovsky, characterizing colloquial speech, wrote: “We always do not finish our thoughts, omitting from the speech everything that is given by the situation or the previous experience of the speakers. So, at the table we ask: “Do you have coffee or tea?”; having met a friend, we ask: “Where are you going?”; having heard the annoying music, we say: “Again!”; offering water, let’s say: “Boiled, don’t worry!”, seeing that the interlocutor’s pen does not write, let’s say: “And you with a pencil!” etc." (Peshkovsky A.M. Objective and normative point of view on the language // Peshkovsky A.M. Selected works. M., 1959. P. 58).

Features of the colloquial style of speech are manifested at all levels of the language system. At the lexical level, one can note a large number of neutral words and expressions, words with a specific lexical meaning, everyday vocabulary is widely used.

The use of non-literary vocabulary (jargon, vulgarism, rude, abusive, obscene words and expressions) is not the norm of colloquial speech, since it contradicts not only the literary and linguistic norm, but also grossly violates ethical norms. Foul language is pseudo-communication, in which ethical norms are grossly violated.

In the field of morphology, one can note specific grammatical forms that function only in a colloquial style of speech. For example, forms in -а (-я) in the nominative case of plural nouns ( conductor, accountant, inspector), forms in –y (-u) in the genitive and prepositional singular ( a glass of tea, a lot of people, being in the workshop, on vacation), null-ending forms in the genitive plural ( five kilos, kilo orange), some verb forms ( waving, trembling, pouring). Colloquial speech is also characterized by specific morphological forms (for example, vocative forms of address such as Mash, Kat-a-Kat). At the same time, it lacks many morphological forms characteristic of book speech. So, participles and participles are rarely used as part of participles and participles; only participles and gerunds are possible, acting as ordinary adjectives or adverbs. One of the characteristic features of colloquial speech is the widespread use of pronouns that replace nouns and adjectives and are used without relying on context. In general, the conversational style is characterized by the predominance of verbs over nouns, especially personal forms of the verb.

Features of colloquial speech are most clearly manifested at the syntactic level. The brevity and conciseness of the conversational style lead to the predominance of simple sentences in it, in which there is often no verb-predicate, which makes the statement dynamic. The incompleteness of constructions, incomplete structure, ellipticity (omissions of individual members of the sentence) is one of the brightest means of speech economy, which distinguishes colloquial speech from other varieties of the literary language.

Of the complex sentences in the colloquial style, compound and non-union sentences are the most common; they have a pronounced emotional and expressive coloring and are not used in book speech. The emotionality and expressiveness of colloquial speech lead to the widespread use of interrogative and exclamatory sentences in it.

Usually in Russian there are five styles. Among them, a special place is occupied by colloquial - a style that is inherent mainly in casual speech. Our article is devoted to the features of this style of speech.

"Bookish" styles and colloquial style

The colloquial style of speech is quite different from the rest, the so-called "bookish" styles. First of all, by the fact that colloquial speech is relaxed and spontaneous, in contrast to "bookish" styles, which are characterized by thinking over phrases, choosing words, following a certain pattern, often using clichés (scientific and official business style).

Spoken speech is always spontaneous, it is a lively, often emotional response to the speech of another person or to life events, and an unprepared response. Being a free and direct manifestation, colloquial speech is replete with a variety of words that are born in it and often disappear in it, but can also enter the common language and become neutral words that are appropriate in any other style. This is one of the ways to enrich the Russian language, according to the philologist Academician L. V. Shcherba.

Form and genres of conversational style

Spoken language exists almost exclusively in oral form. Most often it is a dialogue. Therefore, in addition to purely linguistic, non-linguistic means of expression are also used in texts: facial expressions, gestures, intonation, loudness and speed of speech.

The genres of conversational style are mainly oral: conversation, conversation; but there are also written ones: a personal note, a diary entry, etc.

Sometimes two sub-styles are distinguished in the colloquial style: colloquial-everyday and colloquial-professional. The latter is characterized by the use of terms, but often they are subject to change. More on this below.

Purpose and addressee of conversational style texts

The addressee is the direct interlocutor, since colloquial style texts are usually addressed to a specific person.

Features of visual means

Conversational style is characterized by the lack of elaboration of the statement. It is not formalized in any way, but is pronounced as it was born, without “lithoprocessing”. Therefore, introductory words, repetitions, omissions of words often appear.

In the texts of the colloquial style, you can find many special colloquial words; in the dictionary they are given with the mark "colloquial."

The so-called "condensate words" are frequent (that is, words that replace two: evening - "Evening Moscow", condensed milk - condensed milk, reading room - reading room, etc.), expressive words (interjections and independent parts of speech with expressive suffixes : old man, shopkeeper, etc.).

The syntax is also peculiar: many incomplete sentences, expressive constructions with dashes, inversion (changed word order), plug-in constructions, repetitions.

But the active use of phraseology is especially noticeable in the structure of colloquial speech. Phraseologisms are one of the main means of expression in a colloquial style. They not only decorate speech, but also give it a certain connection with the general and abstract, since in general the topics of colloquial speech are usually specific.

The colloquial style is the style of the literary language, therefore, neither mat, nor other rude, vulgar words are included in this concept: they lie outside the Russian literary language.

Where is the conversational style used?

Examples of colloquial speech style are found everywhere. These are friendly conversations, a discussion between two neighbors of a third, a conversation between two employees about an upcoming event at work, or a discussion of professional problems in a relaxed atmosphere. It can be generalized that this is any communication on any everyday or professional topics. From this point of view, the conversational style is the most important of all.

What have we learned?

The conversational style is used by all native speakers to discuss pressing issues. The texts of this style are characterized by spontaneity, emotionality, expressiveness. In colloquial speech, many expressive words, phraseological units, condensate words are used. The syntax is characterized by the form of a dialogue, simple sentences with repetitions and introductory constructions, omission of words, the use of incomplete sentences, exclamations and appeals.

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The conversational style of communication is used in an informal setting. It is typical for oral speech, but can be expressed in writing (note text, personal diary, informal correspondence). In the process of communication, common language is used. The conversational style is actively accompanied by gestures and facial expressions, it is also influenced by the emotionality of the interlocutors and circumstances.

The main features of colloquial speech:

• Reduction of sentences to simple ones, and removal of some members of the sentence, if the meaning of the statement is clear even without them. Example: I miss you - I miss you.
• Short phrases abbreviated to one word are used. An example of a similar word: maternity leave - decree.
• The pronunciation of the word in a simplified form. Such a shorthand is used in colloquial, familiar communication. An example of a similar word: "right now" instead of "now."

The linguistic features of the conversational style are expressed in the simplification of statements based on the spontaneity of colloquial speech. Few can speak coherently and beautifully without preparation, and spontaneous speech presupposes a certain development of speech abilities.

In order to avoid the appearance of unrelated parts, pauses, reservations, and profanity, abbreviations are used. Examples of the work of the law of "saving the means of speech": a five-story house - a five-story building, a utility room - a utility room.

• Label cliches. A set of template phrases used in repetitive situations of daily communication. Example: "Get out? Hello".
• Close contact of communicating people. Information is conveyed verbally and non-verbally.
• Expressiveness or specific expressiveness of statements with the use of reduced expressions (example: fuck, go crazy).
• Everyday content.
• Imagery.

The linguistic features of the conversational style are expressed in specific pronunciation (example: stress on the wrong syllable), lexical heterogeneity, morphology and syntax. Everyday style is not used for writing scientific literature, when compiling documents.

Signs of everyday style

The main features of the conversational style:

• unconstrained, familiar form of communication;
• appraisal;
• emotionality;
• inconsistency, from the point of view of logic;
• discontinuity of speech.

Conversational style is most clearly manifested in oral speech in the form of a dialogue.

The features that define the conversational style are situational, informal and natural communication. This includes the lack of preparatory thinking about speech, the gestures and facial expressions used. Particles, sentence words, interjections, introductory words, connecting constructions, repetitions are actively used.

Everyday style implies the use of a polysemantic word, word formation is evaluative: suffixes of diminutiveness or magnification, neglect, flattery are used.

Functions and purpose of everyday style

The main features of the conversational style:

• transfer of information;
• communication;
• impact.

The goal pursued by the everyday style of interaction between people is communication, the exchange of impressions and feelings.

Analysis of conversational genres

The characteristic of conversational style is a narrower concept than colloquial speech. In colloquial speech, non-literary components are used (examples: vernacular, slang words, dialect). Conversational style is expressed by linguistic means.

Genres of colloquial speech characterize the interaction between people. These include:

• Conversation. A popular genre is communication for communication. This is an exchange of impressions, emotions, points of view. The conversation is characterized by a calm manner, it is a pleasant pastime.
• Story. A monologue dedicated to some event. All aspects of the event that occurred are covered in detail, an assessment is expressed.
• Dispute. Here each of the interlocutors defends his own view. In colloquial speech, the dispute is characterized by the informality of relations between the disputants and the ease of communication.
• Letter. The text of the letter has a specific purpose: reporting events, conveying feelings, establishing or maintaining contact, calling for something. The obligatory use of the etiquette formula is assumed - greeting and farewell, the further content of the text is free. This is one of the written genres of colloquial speech, informal epistolary interaction. The topics of such texts change arbitrarily, incomplete sentences, expressive expressions are used.
• A note. A distinctive feature of the genre is brevity. This is a small everyday text, the purpose of which is a message about what needs to be done, a warning, an invitation, gestures of courtesy. Sample text: "I'll be there soon, don't forget to buy milk." Sometimes the text of the note is presented as a hint of something.
• Diary. The genre differs from the rest in that the recipient and the author are the same person. The text of the diary is an analysis of past events or one's own feelings, creativity that contributes to the improvement of the word and the personality itself.

Analysis of conversational genres contributes to understanding the style of speech behavior, the structure of natural communication.

Functional styles of speech help determine the type of language used in various areas of communication. The sphere of interaction between people at the everyday level involves the included functions of the conversational style of statements or texts.

Serving for direct communication between people. Its main function is communicative (exchange of information). Conversational style is presented not only in but also in writing - in the form of letters, notes. But mainly this style is used in oral speech - dialogues, polylogues.

It is characterized by ease, unpreparedness of speech (lack of thinking over the sentence before uttering and preliminary selection of the necessary language material), informality, immediacy of communication, the obligatory transfer of the author's attitude to the interlocutor or the subject of speech, saving speech efforts ("Mash", "Sash", "San Sanych" and others). An important role in the conversational style is played by the context of a certain situation and the use of non-verbal means (reaction of the interlocutor, gestures, facial expressions).

Lexical characteristics of conversational style

Language differences include the use of non-lexical means (stress, intonation, speech rate, rhythm, pauses, etc.). The linguistic features of the conversational style also include the frequent use of colloquial, colloquial and slang words (for example, "start" (start), "today" (now), etc.), words in a figurative sense (for example, "window" - in meaning "break"). Spoken language is distinguished by the fact that in it very often words not only name objects, their signs, actions, but also give them an assessment: "dodger", "well done", "careless", "be clever", "sip", "cheerful".

The colloquial style is also characterized by the use of words with magnifying or diminutive suffixes (“spoon”, “book”, “bread”, “seagull”, “pretty”, “big”, “red”), phraseological turns (“it got up a little light "," rushed at full speed"). Often, particles, interjections, and appeals are included in speech ("Masha, go get some bread!", "Oh, my God, who came to us!").

Conversational style: syntax features

The syntax of this style is characterized by the use of simple sentences (most often compound and non-union), (in dialogue), the widespread use of exclamatory and interrogative sentences, the absence of participial and participial phrases in sentences, the use of sentence words (negative, affirmative, incentive, etc.) . This style is characterized by breaks in speech, which can be caused by various reasons (the speaker's excitement, looking for the right word, unexpected jumping from one thought to another).

The use of additional structures that break the main sentence and introduce certain information, clarifications, comments, amendments, and explanations into it also characterizes the conversational style.

In colloquial speech, they can also be found in which parts are interconnected by lexical-syntactic units: the first part contains evaluative words ("clever", "well done", "fool", etc.), and the second part substantiates this assessment, for example : "Well done for helping!" or "Fool Mishka, that you obeyed!"

Read more about book styles in previous articles on our website. See the breakdown of style examples, and . And here we will analyze the conversational style in detail.

Tired of homework and essays?

So, the colloquial style of the text is a style that includes language units (words, clichés, set expressions, phraseological units) characteristic of oral speech. This style is the style of easy communication, the exchange of information in an informal setting. In general, it is considered oral, but it is often used in written forms.

For example, in artistic speech, the dialogues of the characters are often framed in a colloquial style, which helps to give the artistic reality of the work more authenticity.

Conversational style features:

1. A common form is a dialogue, less often a monologue.
2. Non-strict selection of language means and simplicity (and slang words, and professional terms, and dialectisms, and curses), imagery and emotionality.
3. Colloquial simplification of words (now - right now, what - what), sentences (one cup of coffee - one coffee). Phrases are often truncated and "tailored" to a specific situation, in which clarifications and details are not needed (the door closed, got up and left); word doubling is common (yes-yes, right-right).
4. Fuzzy compliance with the logic and specificity of speech (if the interlocutors lose the thread of the conversation and move away from the initial topic).
5. The atmosphere of speech communication is important - facial expressions and gestures of the interlocutors, emotional reactions.
6. Frequent use of exclamatory and interrogative sentences.

Moreover, the written forms of the conversational style (essays, essays, notes, stories) are also distinguished by their informality and “conversational” presentation of information.

Conversational style: case studies

Let's take for analysis an excerpt from an essay by K. Paustovsky.

Essay excerpt:

I am sure that in order to fully master the Russian language, in order not to lose the feeling of this language, one needs not only constant communication with ordinary Russian people, but communication with pastures and forests, waters, old willows, with the whistle of birds and with every flower, which nods his head from under a hazel bush. Every person must have their happy time of discovery. I also had one such summer of discovery in the wooded and meadow side of Central Russia - a summer abundant with thunderstorms and rainbows. This summer has passed in the hum of pine forests, crane cries, in the white masses of cumulus clouds, the play of the night sky, in the impassable fragrant thickets of meadowsweet, in the warlike cock cries and songs of girls among the evening meadows, when the sunset gilds the girl's eyes and the first fog gently smokes over the whirlpools . That summer, I learned anew - by touch, by taste, by smell - many words that until then, although known to me, were distant and not experienced. Previously, they evoked only one ordinary meager image. But now it turned out that each such word contained an abyss of living images.

As already mentioned, this text is written in the essay genre and refers to the colloquial style.

Let us note the signs of the named style, which are observed in the above passage.

1. Morphology:

• there is some preference for nouns over verb forms;
• participles and participles are often used;
• quantitative and ordinal numbers are used, and at the same time, collective numbers are almost completely absent;
• there is a characteristic selective attitude to pronouns (used, first of all, relative and demonstrative).

2. Logic of presentation is achieved by moving connecting units from sentence to sentence. ( “For complete mastery, communication is needed - a time of discovery - I also had a summer of discoveries - this summer passed in - this summer I learned a lot of words again - it turned out that in each such word there is an abyss of living images" etc.)

3. This type of speech corresponds extended compound syntacticdesigns (“This summer has passed in the hum of pine forests, in the cries of cranes, in the white masses of cumulus clouds, the play of the night sky, in the impassable fragrant thickets of meadowsweet, in warlike cock cries and songs of girls among the evening meadows, when the sunset gilds girlish eyes and the first fog carefully smokes over whirlpools"), filled with descriptions and experiences, expressed in grammatical constructions - first-person narration, frequent use of the pronoun "I", preference in the use of nouns and adjectives over verbs.

4. Theses of the verb system are actively used: “I am sure that in order to fully master the Russian language, in order not to lose a sense of this language, you need not only constant communication with ordinary Russian people”, “every person has his own happy time of discovery”, “every such word contains an abyss of living images". The theses of the nominative system are not marked in the proposed text.

5. Words and phrases related to both book and colloquial vocabulary: abyss, plentiful, anew, gilds, girlish, impenetrable, wailing, whistling. There are no specific terms in the text.

6. Emotionally expressive means of language are used(first of all - colloquial vocabulary), which adds emotionality, liveliness, imagery to the text, conveys the feelings of the author.

7. Frequent means of artistic representation used in the text: personification ( "with every flower that nods its head from under the hazel bush, the game of the night sky"), metaphors ( "The sunset is golden"), adjectives ( "in the white masses of cumulus clouds"), repeat ( “I also had one such summer of discoveries in the wooded and meadow side of Central Russia - a summer abundant with thunderstorms and rainbows”), epithets ( "militant cock cries").

8. The linguistic features of the text in connection with syntactic constructions are marked by the alternation of complex and simple sentences, when one complex sentence is replaced by two simple ones or vice versa.

Consider the second example of colloquial style text analysis.

An excerpt from the article:

Borovoye was badly maimed for the war. A good half of the huts were burned down. There is almost no cattle left. The gardens were cut down. And what gardens! It's worth seeing! The village was deserted. As soon as ours arrived, maybe a sixth of the collective farmers remained in the village, or maybe less. Who left himself - went east, who - into the partisans, and whom the Fritz drove to Germany. Oh, it was bad! True, in Borovoe the Germans were not yet as fierce as in neighboring villages, but still ... What can I say - he ruined the village. And now you don’t recognize Borovoy ...

The style of the text is colloquial. Signs of style in this passage:

1. Non-strict adherence to the literary norm (applies to all language levels).
2. The use of common vocabulary, against the background of which special words are used that reflect the general mood of the text (Gardens were cut down. And what kind of gardens were there).
3. Morphology is characterized by:

• some preference for nouns over verbs and verb forms (Borovoye was badly maimed for the war. A good half of the huts were burned down);
• selective attitude to pronouns (the use of relative, demonstrative: such, as, after all, ours);

1. The logical presentation is achieved by the transition of connecting units from sentence to sentence. (crippled - burned - not left - cut down - (what were - it’s a pleasure to look at) - depopulated - a sixth part remained - who left himself - oh, it was bad - though, he wasn’t so fierce - ruined the village - not to know now).
2. Expanded compound syntactic constructions (As ours came, so maybe a sixth of the collective farmers remained in the village, or maybe less. Whoever left himself went eastward, who joined the partisans), filled with descriptions and experiences, which is reflected in grammatical constructions - first-person narration, preference in the use of nouns and adjectives over verbs.
3. Words and phrases related to both book and colloquial vocabulary (cut down, Fritz, raged, it was bad). There are no specific terms in the text. The choice in favor of emotionally expressive expressions, figurative means of language adds emotionality, liveliness, figurativeness, well conveys the feelings of the author.
4. Frequent use of tropes: metaphors (Borovoe was badly crippled) , metonymy and synecdoche (The German was not yet so fierce with Borovoyravaged the village), hyperbolas (depopulated village), dysphemisms (Fritz, ruined by the German).
5. The linguistic features of the text in the syntax are marked by the alternation of complex and simple sentences, when one complex sentence is replaced by two simple ones or vice versa (The village was deserted. As soon as ours arrived, maybe a sixth of the collective farmers remained in the village, or maybe less..

Thus, the colloquial style in terms of the use of language units, in terms of semantic content, sharply differs (and in many respects is opposed) to book styles.

However, at the same time, the conversational style, like the book style, actively uses the linguistic means of the artistic or journalistic style, and in the dialogue of two scientists - even in ordinary everyday conditions - it will be natural to use the words of the scientific style, and even terms.

As well as book styles, conversational units of speech are used - for example, as already mentioned, in literary texts, when creating the proper atmosphere and reliability, the dialogue between two characters can be written in colloquial speech.

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