Stylistic classification of the english vocabulary

d) The Editorial

Editorials, like some other types of newspaper artic­les, bear the stamp of both the newspaper style and publi­cistic style.

The function of the editorial is to influence the reader by giving an interpretation of certain facts. Editorials comment on the political and other events of the day. Their purpose is to give the editor's opinion and inter­pretation of the news published and suggest to the reader that it is correct one.

Writers of editorials make an extensive use of emo­tionally-coloured vocabulary. Alongside political words and expressions, terms, cliches and abbreviations one can find colloquial words and expressions, slang and profes­sionalisms. They all together enhance the emotional ef­fect.

Emotional colouring in editorial articles is also achi­eved with the help of various stylistic devices, both lexical and syntactical, the use of which is largely traditional. Editorial abound in trite stylistic means, especially meta­phors and epithets. For example: international climate, a price explosion, brutal rule, crazy politics.

Traditional periphrases are also very common in newspaper editorials, such as Wall Street (American fi­nancial circles), the Great Powers (the five or six biggest and strongest states), Downing Street (the British Govern­ment), etc.

But genuine stylistic means are also frequently used, which helps the writer of the editorial to bring his idea ho­me to the reader. Practically any stylistic device may be found in editorial writing. The emotional force of expres­sion in the editorial is often enhanced by the use of vari­ous syntactical stylistic devices. Some editorials abound in parallel constructions, various types of repetition, rhe­torical questions and other syntactical stylistic means.

Yet, the role of expressive language means and stylis­tic devices in the editorial should not be overestimated. Stylistic devices one comes across in editorials are for the most part trite. Original forms of expression and fresh ge­nuine stylistic means are comparatively rare in newspaper articles, editorials included.