On measures for further development of Higher Education System

CHAPTER 1. COLLOQUIAL LAYER OF VOCABULARY

1. 
   Types of colloquial layer of vocabulary
   

English language is divided into three main layers: the literary layer, the neutral layer and the colloquial layer. The literary and the colloquial layers contain a number of subgroups each of which has a property it shares with all the subgroups within the layer. This common property, which unites the different groups of words within the layer, may be called its aspect. The aspect of the literary layer is its markedly bookish character. It is this that makes the layer more or less stable. The aspect of the colloquial layer of words is its lively spoken character.
The aspect of the neutral layer is its universal character. That means it is unrestricted in its use. It can be employed in all styles of language and in all spheres of human activity.
The literary layer of words consists of groups accepted as legitimate members of the English vocabulary. They have no local or dialectal character.
The colloquial layer of words as qualified in most English or American dictionaries is not infrequently limited to a definite language community or confined to a special locality where it circulates. [14, 92]
The literary vocabulary consists of the following groups of words:
1. common literary;
2. terms and learned words;
3. poetic words;
4. archaic words;
5. barbarisms and foreign words;
6. literary coinages including nonce-words.
The colloquial vocabulary falls into the following groups:
1. common colloquial words;
2. slang;
3. jargonisms;
4. professional words;
5. dialectal words;
6. vulgar words;
7. colloquial coinages.
The common literary, neutral and common colloquial words are grouped under the term standard English vocabulary. Other groups in the literary layer are regarded as special literary vocabulary and those in the colloquial layer are regarded as special colloquial (non-literary) vocabulary.
Neutral words, which form the bulk of the English vocabulary, are used in both literary and colloquial language. Neutral words are the main source of synonymy and polysemy. It is the neutral stock of words that is so prolific in the production of new meanings.
Common literary words are chiefly used in writing and in polished speech.
The following synonyms illustrate the relations that exist between the neutral, literary and colloquial words in the English language.