Page 120 - 4227

15.2 Declamatory (Artistic) Style. Language of Poetry.
Phonetic Expressive Means in English Poetry. Drama

In declamatory (artistic, belles-lettres) style the speaker's

aim is to appeal simultaneously to the mind, the will and feelings
of the listener by image-bearing devices. Declamatory style is

generally acquired by special training and it is used in stage

speech, recitation, reading aloud fiction. The intonation of the
author's speech or a monologue is characterized by the use of

Falling tones. The nuclear tone in final intonation groups is

generally the Low Fall. The principal nuclear tones in non-final
intonation groups are the Low Fall, the High Fall and the Fall-

Rise. The speed of utterance is relatively slow and as a result there
are no marked variations in rhythm. Pauses may be different in

length but long pauses are more common.

Verses have well-defined patterns of rhythm – the stressed

syllables follow one another in regular intervals of time: the
intervals between the stressed syllables are approximately equal.

The most typical tone of recitation is Falling. The Low Fall is
especially often used in quiet lyric poems. The High Fall is used

when the atmosphere is of the poem is strained. It is often used in
grand, pompous, solemn verses. Tempo is also a very important

feature of poetic speech. Pauses in poetic style fulfill various

functions. More or less equal length of pauses creates the
atmosphere of quietness in lyric poetry. Long pauses create

pompous atmosphere. Psychological pauses are often met to fulfill

emotional function in poetry.

Language of the drama is entirely dialogue. The author's
speech is almost entirely excluded except for the playwright's

remarks and stage directions. But the language of the characters is
not the exact reproduction of the norms of colloquial language.

Any variety of the belles-lettres style will use the norms of the

literary language of the given period.

119