Stylistic peculiarities of the sport commentaries genre

But in the given example the word “pressure” is used as an expressive characteristics of difficulties and feelings of anxiety that are caused by the need to achieve or to behave in a particular way.
The function of polysemy is expressive because it helps to intensify the described action.
Another stylistic device used in the analyzed SCs is simile. Simile is used by commentators in order to expressively show the actions of sportsmen on the field.
For example:
Tobias looking like he’s keen for the ball. Offense by real Madrid is dream like!
In this fragment of SC commentator uses even two similes going one after another. The first simile is used in order to show the strength and force of the football player. In structural aspect the first simile is introduced with the help of the traditional preposition “like”. The second simile is not so traditional. It is introduced with the help of inversion: “dream like” means fantastic, fabulous.
The function of simile is simultaneously to add expressiveness and to perform emotionality in the context.
Further we should mention the usage of metonymy as an example of stylistic devices. For example:
It’s a game of brawn, but with these nagging free-kicks which are interrupting the flow of the game.
The word “brawn” in its direct sense denotes muscles of sportsmen. So the word-combination “game of brawn” is metonymic to “game of sportsmen”. Brawn replaces the notion of the whole (people).
The main function of metonymy is expressive because with the help of this stylistic device commentator has the possibility to make his SC more picturesque. Moreover, this device helps to perform the commentator’s evaluation of the game described in SC.
One of the most frequent stylistic devices used in the analyzed SC is lexical repetition. It must be noted that lexical repetition can be of different forms.
Firstly, lexical repetition can be a simple repetition of one and the same word in the context, as in the following example:
Great, Great last challenge from Ivanovic as he goes for the slide in try to take the ball off Welbeck a mere six yards from the goal.
Secondly, repeated words can be linked with each other with the help of conjunction “and”:
Chelsea are starting to get more into the game as time ticks on, getting on the ball more and more and making those crucial decisions up there in the pitch.
Thirdly, lexical repetition can refer to repetition of cognate words of different parts of speech. For example:
Unlucky mistake of charging after the ball, but unluckily charging into Evans back instead.
Irrespective of the type of lexical repetition, in the given examples this stylistic device performs the function of intensification.
But sometimes lexical repetition is just the consequence of spontaneous speech of the commentator, as in the following example:
Well defended by Real Madrids defenders, Xabi and Luka.
In this case lexical repetition of the words “defend-defender” is seen as tautology.
In the sphere of stylistic tropes we should mention also stylistic use of idioms. Commentator not very often but still uses idioms in the genre of SC.
For example:
Here is Mr Veysey again with his two cents:’ Phil Dowd is in for a long afternoon.
In this example we can se the transformed idiom from the English idiomatic expression “give one’s two cents”. The meaning of the idiom: to share one's opinion or point of view for whatever it may be worth, generally when it is unasked for.
Things are looking more comfortable for Real Madrid as their possession and passing have improved dramatically, this can easily take a turn for the worse, if Ajax improves their game and gets more possession and advances, and they have a chance.
Here we can see the usage of non-transformed idiom “take a turn for the worse” with the meaning “to become worse”.
So, in SC genre such stylistic devices are frequently used as the following:
1) epithets;
2) intensifiers;
3) metaphors;
4) polysemy;
5) similes;
6) metonymy;
7) lexical repetition;
8) idioms.

2.3. Syntactical stylistic devices as an element of SC discourse

Syntactical stylistic devices are also very frequent in the SC discourse. Syntactical level of stylistic expressiveness is created with the help of definite structural peculiarities of SC texts.
One of the frequent syntactical stylistic devices used in SC is ellipsis. In simple words elliptical constructions refer to the omission of some words in the sentence.
For example:
Very exciting match, two one, this is five live, two players trying to keep possession over the ball as the other tries their best to take it, one of them is Kaka, the other Ryan, whom has scored 3 goals for Ajax for the 2012-2013 fixtures.
The first ellipsis observed in the given example consists in the omission of the subject and the predicate (normative use: It is a very exciting match). The second ellipsis is constructed with the help of the omission of the auxiliary verb “to be: (normative use: players are trying to…).
Excellent volley by Thulani. Might possibly be a play on, the balls down the side.
In this fragment of SC we can also observe two examples of ellipsis. In the first case ellipsis is the omission of the subject and the predicate (normative use: It is an excellent volley). In the second case ellipsis concerns the omission of the subject (normative use: he might…).
Florent down the left, looks like Buttner isn’t even trying here
This example shows the omission of the predicate in the sentence (normative use: Florent is down…).
From our point of view, elliptical constructions are more often used as a result of fast and spontaneous speech. But we can consider ellipsis to be a syntactical stylistic device because it also expresses the emotions of the commentator.
The next means of syntactical expressiveness is inversion. Inversion is formed with the help of the “wrong” word-order in the sentence.
For example:
Free kick to Ajax, taking it is Viktor.
Inversion consists in the fact that the subject “Viktor” is used in the last position in the sentence (normative use: Viktor is taking it). But such word-order is not a grammatical mistake but a bright device of stylistic expression. Inversion helps to change theme and rheme and intensify the main word in the sentence.
Further we will describe different types of syntactical repetition observed in the analyzed SCs.
First of all, we should say about parallel constructions which are often used in the analyzed material.
For example:
Raphael takes the ball out of Ajax’s position. Sami takes the ball that Raphael sends him.
Tobias passes to Niklas, Niklas passes.
Parallelism consists in these examples in the analogical construction of two parts of the sentence or two sentences following each other. This is made with the aim to create a sequential order of actions in the field.
Secondly, syntactical repetition in SC genre is represented by anaphora, as in the following example:
Marcelo heads back and helps, Marcelo clears it, and may I say he has tried to make his outfit work with his style, boots matching his hair.
Anaphora consists in the analogical beginning of the two parts of one and the same sentence. The aim of anaphora is quite the same as of parallel constructions.
Thirdly, SC operates chiasmus, or cross repetition of syntactical structures. For example:
Essien goes in!, cross by Essien, looking positive. Wiel heads it away, not too far. In goes Rhijn, Tobias looking like he’s keen for the ball.
The underlined chiasmus results in cross-order repetition of one and the same syntactical structure. The function of this chiasmus is to make an expressive and unusual narration in SC.
Another syntactical stylistic device used in SC is emphatic auxiliary. It is known that auxiliary (“do”) cannot be used in affirmative sentences. Normally it is used in negations or interrogations. But sometimes even affirmative sentences contain this auxiliary with the definite stylistic aim.
For example:
Well play to Ajax, they really do know how to get the ball down the pitch with ease and tactics, let’s hope this match is a good one for them.
In this sentence we can observe the usage of auxiliary verb “do” in intensifying and emphatic function. With the help of such syntactical device the commentator intensifies the action of the analyzed football team.
Asyndeton is one more syntactical stylistic device which is used in SC genre.
We will make an example of asyndeton:
Kaka takes the ball, crosses it to Cristiano Ronaldo.
Asyndeton consists in the given example in the connection of two homogenous parts of the sentence with the help of a coma, while normatively the conjunction “and” must be used here. This device has the strict function: it is used in order to show the dynamics of the action on the football field.
We should also mention the usage of rhetoric question in the SC genre. Rhetoric question is a question that demands no answer. It is a type of exclamation.
While other interrogative sentences are not used in the analyzed SC, there is still the example of a rhetoric question:
Florent down the left, looks like Buttner isn’t even trying here, where’s his head at today?
The aim of the rhetoric question in the given example is to express the feelings of the commentator concerning the game. The commentator is confused and puzzled by the actions of the sportsman.
One more syntactical device used in stylistic function is parenthesis. Parenthesis is a word, sentence, etc. that is added to a speech or piece of writing, especially in order to give extra information.
For example:
Tobias passes to Niklas, Niklas passes, oh what is this, he is checking his boot something seems to be a worry to him.
The aim of parenthesis (“oh what is this”) is to show strong emotions of surprise and puzzlement of the commentator.
So, in SC genre such syntactical stylistic devices are frequently used as the following:
1) ellipsis;
2) inversion;
30 parallelism;
4) anaphora;
5) chiasmus;
6) emphatic auxiliary;
7) asyndeton;
8) rhetoric question;
9) parenthesis.


2.4. Phonetic stylistic devices as an element of SC discourse

Phonetic stylistic devices are also frequently used in SC discourse due to its oral nature. Sometimes their usage is not intentional, to our mind. But still they have great stylistic potential.
On of the phonetic stylistic devices used in SCD discourse is onomatopoeia. It is an imitation of some sounds of nature, animals, etc.
For example:
Ajax swoops in and takes it, big clearance, sending the ball flying from Ricardo Van Rhijn.
In this example we can observe the usage of the onomatopoeic word “swoop”. This verb expresses the meaning of flying quickly and suddenly downward, especially in order to attack someone or something. In its phonetic characteristic this word imitates the sound of falling.
In the same example we can see also another phonetic stylistic device – alliteration. Alliteration is observed in the word combination “big clearance” with the meaning of big amount of space or distance that is needed between two objects so that they do not touch each other. Alliteration consists in the repetition of the sounds /i/ and /i:/.
It is known that SC discourse is very emotional by its nature. Commentators speak not neutral but emotionally coloured. In the oral speech it is represented by the high pitch and volume of voice. In the written discourse it can be expressed with the help of exclamation marks, as in the following example:
It’s an own goal by Jonny Evans! GOAL! GOAL!
Again, Essien goes in!, cross by Essien, looking positive.
Phonetic peculiarities of SC are also expressed in the use of interjections. Interjections are emotional by their nature. That is why their usage is emotionally coloured. They are also pronounced with the increased tone of voice. That is why they must be investigated in the sphere of phonetic devices.
For example:
Time after time Young sends the crosses which, if correctly manoeuvred can get them the goal they oh so desperately need.
but .. no, they get through, Oscar takes the shot, ohh.. just goes a little wide.
We should also mention such phonetic means of expressiveness as non-verbal sounds. They are represented in written speech in the form of “er”:
Manchester haven’t given many away and er I think it’s important for them, as they are very experiences, keeping their cool at this moment in time.
Yeah that’s right, they’re playing very good, good inter-passing er between Lampard and Oscar, he got the ball as expected.
So, phonetic stylistic devices are not so various as stylistic and syntactical devices, but still they have great stylistic potential, They are:
1) onomatopoeia;
2) alliteration;
3) exclamation;
4) interjections;
5) non-verbal sounds.














Conclusion

The results of the analysis undertaken in the term paper show that SC is referred to the publicistic style in the system of English functional styles. But it should be mentioned that this system is not strictly defined in linguistics. The main aim of SC as a publicistic style is to exert influence on public opinion while informing them about sports.
Informative function of SC as a publicistic style is performed with the help of sport terms, proper names. Stylistic peculiarities used in SCs serve expressive, emotional and some other functions, depending on the type of stylistic device.
Stylistic devices (tropes) revealed in the present research are varied. We have observed epithets, intensifiers, similes which represent emotive function, metaphor, polysemy, simile, metonymy, idioms which perform expressive function, and lexical repetitions of different types which perform intensifying function.
Syntactical devices often perform emotional function (such as ellipsis, rhetorical question, parenthesis) and emphatic function (such as parallel constructions, anaphora, emphatic auxiliary). Inversion is used with the aim to intensify some information. The main aim of asyndeton is to show dynamics of actions.
Phonetic level is represented by onomatopoeia and alliteration performing expressive function, exclamations and interjections performing emotional function, and non-verbal sound with the aim to show dynamics of an action.







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