CHARACTERISTICS OF THE OFFICIAL BUSINESS STYLE IN MODERN ENGLISH

International independent scientific journal №79/2025 29 CHARACTERISTICS OF THE OFFICIAL BUSINESS STYLE IN MODERN ENGLISH Rajabova S. Doctor of Philosophy in Germanic Azerbaijan University of Languages, Department of Foreign Languages in Education Baku, Azerbaijan https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17583051 Abstract This paper presents characteristics of the official business style in modern English. In connection with the great changes taking place in the economy of our country in the modern era and the process of integration into the world market where international communication is conducted in English, there is a necessary need to train specialist personnel who have mastered business English at a high level. The official business style is a functional style of the modern English literary language that is used to create various documents, legal acts, and in official communication between citizens, organizations, and social groups. The official business style is characterized by the presence of special business standards that are used to create documents such as applications, business letters, protocols, reports, certificates, powers of attorney, contracts, and more. The official-business style of speech performs informative and persuasive functions, which consist of reporting on the state of affairs, stating facts, or giving instructions for performing certain actions. Keywords: integration, international standards, pragmatic parameters, colloquial nature, official-business Introduction English is recognized as the language of international communication not only in the business and economic spheres, but also in its various fields of application, for example, in international negotiations, air and sea navigation, customs clearance, etc., this sphere is also distinguished by its noticeable specialization at different levels of the language hierarchy. In most countries of the world where English is not a native language, people actively use it in their daily professional activities. Due to the continuous expansion of the Foreign-Economic Relations of our country, the increasing number of people involved in the sphere of entrepreneurial activity, the introduction of international standards, especially norms and rules of the official-business English language into the world languages is taking place [1, p.121]. In recent years, the official-business English language has attracted the attention of many specialists, leading to the compilation of dictionaries, reference books, and the preparation of text samples. In modern conditions, at a time when the real functionality of the language system is involved in the analysis, taking into account the “communication factor”, such studies are considered relevant in which language phenomena, including texts, are studied by taking into account functional and pragmatic parameters [2, p.263] In the Anglo-Saxon period, the official-business style of the English language was mainly realized in oral speech. In the XI-XIV centuries – during the Middle English period, thousands of words from Latin and Greek enter the English language, both from French and through the French language. In the XV-XVI centuries, legislative acts begin to take on their modern form, the number of genres increases, the rules for their compilation appear. The formation and development of the official-business style falls on the middle and New periods of the English language. In the Middle English period, business documentation increases the number of genres, and in the new English period, the rules for their compilation appear. In the era of Old English, there were only separate genres of business documents: law, charter, will. During the period of Middle English, when Britain came to the rule of the Normans (XI-XIV centuries), thousands of words from Latin and Greek enter English, both from French and through French: attaché, embargo, courtoisie, detente, nuncio, ukase. At the same time, this area is expanding with the internal means of the English language. e. g. : citizen, citizenship, client state, pol, resident etc. [10, p.52] Among the bookish styles of the English language, the official-business style (also known as the clerical style) is the most boring. Its language is composed of speech idioms (clichés), bureaucratic terms, and a clear syntactic structure. However, it is the official-business style that people encounter on a daily basis. This is the style of announcements, certificates, protocols, reports, and various documents. The style of these papers simplifies formal communication by providing uniformity and limiting the content of business documents to only necessary information, allowing for a concise presentation. The study of the official-business style seems to us important and promising, since its sphere of service is the most important aspects of state life. In this regard, the current study can be considered as an attempt to consider official-business English as a functional variant of this language within the system, as a social phenomenon determined by the use of linguistic means in a specific communicative situation. The analysis focuses on specific lexicons, morphological means and syntactic constructions used in texts of official-business style, terms, stable and unstable combinations, standards and labels of official-business nature. All these aspects of the official-business style of the English language are relevant due to the fact that they have not been touched upon in the studies so far and for the reasons listed above. The official-business style in English is a functional style used in the sphere of official and business International independent scientific journal №79/2025 30 relations to convey accurate, unambiguous, and standard information in documents such as laws, contracts, official letters, instructions, and references. It is characterized by an impersonal nature, the absence of expression and evaluation, and the use of special vocabulary, bookish words, and fixed phrases, which ensures a standardized and complete presentation of facts. The task of this style is to convey information and give instructions. The official-business style is characterized by precision, unambiguity, impersonal nature, standardized construction of the text, and the imperative nature of the text. Official business style is a functional style of the English language that is used in the sphere of official and business relations, in particular, in administrative and legal activities. It is used in legislative acts, contracts, business correspondence, applications and other documents. Official business style is one of the book styles, used in the sphere of business relations, business papers, laws, documents, acts, contracts, regulations, charters, official correspondence, etc. [7, p.5]. The official-business style lacks emotionally colored and foreign-style, colloquial vocabulary, since documents compiled in accordance with the requirements of this style are practically devoid of expressivity, they do not use visual and expressive means of language. On the contrary, in business texts there is a mandatory prescriptive stylistic coloring, which is achieved through the use of adverbs (for example: one must strictly observe ..., one must resolutely eliminate ...) and verbs in the infinitive with the imperative mood (for example: determine the list of necessary measures ..., establish the location... correct the existing shortcomings..., it is necessary to allow...). Materials and methods. The purpose of this style is to convey information, give instructions. The official business style is characterized by precision, unambiguity, impersonal character, standardized text structure, and the obligatory-prescriptive nature of the text. Official business style is a type of literary language that serves the sphere of official business relations: relations between government authorities and the population, between countries, between enterprises, organizations, institutions, between the individual and society [9, p.252]. The business style is characterized by a distinctive vocabulary and phraseology with a pronounced functional and stylistic coloring that is not found in other styles. The content and style of a text are largely determined by the type of document, and each genre has its own specialized means of expression. However, despite the diversity of genres, the business style is characterized by a certain stability in the organization and composition of language resources. Characteristic features of the official business style: - functioning mainly in written form (rarely encountered in oral speech: in the form of a report before a meeting, in the form of business negotiations, an oral diplomatic statement); - use for the transmission of highly specialized information (legal or diplomatic); - stability, tradition, uniformity; - conciseness and compactness of presentation; accuracy and completeness of formulations; - impeccability in legal terms; - standard language when presenting typical situations of business communication; - neutral tone of presentation; - compliance with the norms of official etiquette, which is manifested in the choice of stable forms of address and words and phrases corresponding to the genre, in construction of a phrase and the entire text; - the absence of manifestation of the author's speech individuality, which is allowed only in certain types of business letters, in diplomatic correspondence, in oral negotiations [6, p.658] The function of business style is that it gives the presentation the character of a document and thereby International independent scientific journal №79/2025 31 transfers the various aspects of human relations reflected in this document into the category of official business. The business sphere is represented by international relations, jurisprudence, economics, military industry, advertising, communication in official institutions, government activities. Official business style is the language of documents, official papers and business meetings. Each style is a relatively stable system at the present stage of the development of the literary language. Therefore, the style of the language is a historical category. Semantic structure of the early Anglo-Saxon code of law; structural-semantic features of the laws of the Kings of Kent and Wessek; architectonics of the Old English code of law; a number of categories of the text of the ancient law (temporality, locality, personality, modality, etc.) Y.A. Kolyadin is widely interpreted in the scientific work [8, р.24]. A.A. Putin notes that neutral, poetic, official-business and scientific styles already existed in the stylistic layers of Old English, and also emphasizes that at that time words and phrases of a colloquial nature were not used in texts at all [10, p.53]. T.V. Uskova in her research shows that a number of legal terms used in modern English are reflected in written monuments dating back to the seventh century: “bequlath, goods, guilt, land, manslaughter, murder, theft, sheriff, steal, thief, ward, guardianship, swear” [11, р.12]. In order to determine the history of the officialbusiness style of the English language, M. Malovichko compares existing genres with those that came to them in ancient times. For example, in modern times, existing legislative acts (legal type of business documents), texts of statutes (socio-political and industrial spheres) and texts of contracts (economic relations) correspond to the laws of legislators that existed in early times, on the other hand, guilds comply with the statutes and orders of the charters [9, р.61]. Functional styles continue to develop in the middle and new English era as well. In the Middle English period, new genres appear that serve the business sphere, while in the new English period their number multiplies (the influence of Norman culture led to the differentiation of genres, to an increase in their number). In the Middle English period, precision and clarity are observed in the expression of the business style. In the New English period, macrostructural features - narrative linguistic features are formed. The texts of business documents are conservative and are still prone to stereotyping [9, p.144]. The formation and development of the officialbusiness style falls on the middle and New periods of the English language. In the Middle English period, business documentation increases the number of genres, and in the new English period, the rules for their compilation appear. If in the Middle and New English periods the charter was drawn up according to the model of law, then in a certain short time the charters began to be drawn up according to the charter. [10, p.56]. At the new English stage, the main features of the style are formed: generalization of information and at the same time its excess, nominativeness, maximum expression of logical relations between phenomena, which led to the predominance of subordinate compound sentences in the syntax [5, p.145]. Intra-textual changes in the new English period are both sociological (as a result of cultural development) and linguistic (thus, the development of a system of conjunctions in the middle and new English periods affects the formation of their exponential plan). In all texts of the charter characteristic of the XV-XVIII centuries, multi-component constructions are used, which have a relationship of both subordination and non-subordination. Later, such phenomena are entrenched in the texts of legality, which require an accurate and logical expression of the content, and characterize them [5, p.179]. Of course, if the official-business style of the English language has passed a long way of development, it is still in development. This is also conditioned by both linguistic and extra linguistic factors. The linguistic factor is that the language is in constant development, without this development the language will go out of use, and since the extra linguistic factor is associated with society, the changes taking place here must necessarily be reflected in the language. Extra linguistic (socio-psychological) factors of communication conditions have a great influence on the formation of the official-business style, as a result of which acquisitions and expressive-emotional units were formed in these semi-styles [2, p.264]. The features of the official business style are predetermined by extra linguistic (external to the language) factors. Let's list these factors: 1. The most basic extra linguistic factor is the purpose of communication. The regulatory function of the official-business style is the main function. Moreover, the main purpose of such communication is to achieve an agreement between the two contracting parties. 2. Stylistic features depend on the structural-compositional decomposition of the text. 3. Imperative form, imperativeness (приказ). This feature is manifested in the regular use of infinitives, in the use of tense forms in the sense of indication; in the use of words expressing will (allow, prohibited, necessary, allowed), passive constructions (certificates are issued on request). These signs can be seen in the job descriptions. 4. Accuracy that does not allow for other interpretations. A double interpretation loses the authority of the document. 5. Standardization arising from the regulatory and regulatory function of documentation. This feature is reflected in the use of fixed expressions (in accordance with the procedure established by law, after the expiration of the term). The following continuous sentence expressions are used in the texts of documents: at the end, upon arrival, signed and sealed, to the address. Templates and standards are a characteristic feature of the style of official documents, since the subject area of business speech is strictly defined, the cases of its application are relatively few and identical. Template expressions are important for creating the layout of the document. Each official document has a certain compositional structure: memoranda, contracts, business International independent scientific journal №79/2025 32 letters, etc. - in all these cases, the structure of the text is related to the direct content of the text and carries a semantic load. 6. Objectivity. This feature is expressed in the impersonality of the interpretation, the rare occurrence of the first and second person in the use of pronouns and verb forms, the high frequency of third person forms, the use of passive constructions: a pension is assigned, a scholarship is awarded. 7. Brevity, achieved through the economical and efficient use of language tools. Brevity is the main feature of the language of business communication. This is explained by the need for quick perception of information. In a business letter, it is important to find a balance between brevity and completeness of information. The brevity of the information expressed necessitates the use of a large number of abbreviations and various types of abbreviations [2, p.262]. Discussion In the history of the study of the styles of the English language, first of all an important role was played by I.R. Galperin's works on Stylistics, which can be considered reliable sources. I.R. Galperin distinguishes five styles in modern English: artistic, journalistic, functional style of newspaper, scientific and official documents. He did not include the style of speech in the classification of styles. He had a new idea of also lies in the fact that he divides texts belonging to a certain style into genres. For example, military texts belonging to the official style include orders, Information, Regulations (rules), instructions; while diplomatic texts include notes, declarations, agreements, etc. covers. In the formal-business style, the rules are more observed, the degree of regulation is higher in the formal style than in the scientific or journalistic style. After reviewing the classifications, we can draw some results. No classification can be complete, universal, useful (suitable). But each classification reflects common features and differences [3, p.91]. Structural, stylistic and pragmatic features of English-language military discourse by T.S.Yusupova, the use of English military discourse units in the media, the classification of military lexicon, the metaphor of lexicon, etc. issues have been investigated [12, p.18]. The ideas of English stylists about the officialbusiness style are distinguished by their diversity. So, well-known specialists in the field of stylistics of the English language D. Crystal and D. Davis identify five “basic linguistic forms” that correspond to the system of functional styles: “the spoken language, the language of written documents, the religious language, the language of newspapers, and the language of legislative acts” [2, p.264]. D. Crystal and D. Davis concludes that within styles, only any linguistic phenomena, units, can be processed in an artistic style; while in the remaining “languages” (styles), they are referred to as “limited” languages, since some forms of language are processed. English stylists also note that the use of certain language units and forms depends on one or another circumstance. The study of the official-business style of the English language is applied, as the English-language literature mainly deals with the relationship of Business English with teaching methods [6, p.658]. “He headed the London Center for the study of Contemporary English language usage (the Survey of English Usage) R. Quirk has developed a classification of registers” [2, p.131]. Linguists of the center of London divide all styles into two large groups: spoken and written styles, which are divided into smaller semi-classes. So, the style of speech includes: 1. “Conversation (for example, a conversation on the phone; ordinary conversation – a conversation that is observed with the permission of the interviewees and observed without their knowledge). This half-style, on the other hand, consists of: a familial style (i.e. suggestibility), which indicates that the interlocutors are in close relationship; a style of equality, which indicates that the social positions (strata’s) of the interlocutors in society are equal; and, conversely, a style that indicates inequality.” 2. "Outside, spontaneous comments (sports and non-sports comments)”; 3. "Speech, prepared without prior preparation”; 4. “ Pre-prepared speech”. According to R. Quirk's classification, the genres of the official-business style we studied were attributed to different groups of this classification [3, p.133]. For example, while technical texts are not taken into account in the classification, humanitarian texts are recorded; or the distinction between pre-prepared speeches and pre-written official news and newspaper texts is not clearly traced. The number of genres of the official-business style is large, the genres themselves are diverse, and this diversity also makes it difficult to systematize and analyze genres. It should be noted that the common feature of semi-styles is the presence of stamps. It is impossible to imagine an application, diploma, passport or any other official document in the right to leave. But each genre has its own rules of compilation. Speaking about the general issues of speech styles and genre/style classification, notes that “due to the rapid development of social stylesheet factors. Stylistics is the consideration of an increasing number of exact manifestations of the functional - stylistic uniqueness of communication. In general, it is necessary to pay special attention to the interaction of fully defined functions and stylesheet factors” [ 3, p.133]. Function of style-an abstract category that expresses the generalized purpose of a particular field of communication. It is also sometimes called the pragmatics of style. The term" functional style " reflects the specific functions of the language, depending on the type of interaction of communication. The main purpose or function of the formal-business style - is to interpret the conditions binding on the two parties and to achieve an agreement between the two contracting parties. The public function of written business speech is very important and peculiar: business serves public re- International independent scientific journal №79/2025 33 lations between people, coordination of the work of departments, speech organizations and the activities of the population. The regulatory function of the official-business style is indicated as the main function, i.e., it involves the establishment of norms and rules in the field of Public Relations (for example, relations of individuals, relations between groups and individuals, relations of social groups and institutions, etc.) reflect. The main goal of such communication is to express the conditions that unite the two parties in the obligation. In other words, the purpose of communication in this style is to achieve an agreement between the two contracting parties. The language means of the official-business style can be characterized as follows: 1) lexicon and phraseology with the corresponding functional-stylistic overtones; 2) language means used in neutral and book Language; 3) language means neutral in stylistic overtones, but acting as a sign of a certain semi-style in terms of frequency of use. According to a number of foreign scientists, radical changes in the business style are taking place. For example E. Gowers believes that in the business sphere of the official-business style in English, a large number of meaningless administrative and clerical formulas (expressions) are superfluous [4, p.272]. This idea was expressed by E. Partridge also supports. [5, p.380] L. Alexander generally denies the existence of the English business language and demands simplicity and clarity [1, p.121]. Of course, we cannot agree with the idea of denying the existence of the English business language. Among the functional styles of the literary language, the official-business style is of great importance. Official-business style is the language of laws and official documents by which socio-legal relations are regulated. "Documentation covers the diplomatic, legislative, managerial, economic, political and social activities of the state. Intergovernmental and intra-state relations are formalized and regulated by documents. In addition to having valuable legal content, the documents are also of historical importance” [16, p.173]. Document-is a text that controls the actions of people and has legal significance. It is for this reason that the text of the document makes high demands on the accuracy of meaning and content, which does not capture non-narrative (ambiguity) in the eye. Only preprepared and edited written speech meets these requirements. It is impossible to achieve this degree of accuracy, since oral speech is not pre-prepared, self-formed and variative. In addition to denotative accuracy (literally meaning) to the language of documents, the requirement of communicative accuracy is also put forward – an adequate reflection of reality, author's opinion in a piece of speech (sentence, text) [9, p.225]. Since the twentieth century, the process of unification in documentation has become more widespread. The emergence of unified forms for writing business letters in service-specific documents has led to the development of new standards of business letter and stencil texts. In the era of computerization, this is more significant. Fixed formulas, accepted abbreviations, uniform sequence of information on these forms, as a rule, ease the encoding of information and save time. The language of official-business documents, on the one hand, is close to the scientific style, since there is a change in the knowledge of the addressee as a communicative result of both styles; on the other hand, it is close to the journalistic style, since the result of the influence of texts of both styles is manifested in the activity of the addressee [16, p.175]. ”In scientific prose, as well as in journalistic and political discourses, the prospects for the prevalence of figurative – associative price sets within different compositional-speech forms, the study of the degrees and limits of predictability, incompleteness of provisions, proposals are of particular relevance" [13, p.592]. According to I. R. Galperin, “the language of official-business documents uses expressions from the early Victorian era. The vocabulary of these documents is conservative, that is, legislative documents retain most of the formal and archaic words used in their lexicographic meaning [3, p.332]. The official-business style, as is known, does not accept words with an emotional tinge, connotative words, and therefore we note a sign of non-emotionality of the style. This feature applies to both the written and oral form of the style. However, there is a tendency to this in diplomatic or in some economic documents (informative genre), in business correspondence (“business style”). Metaphors and comparisons, which are used here in a limited number, act as a means of simple expressiveness, they are more clarifying than figurative. -The official business style is characterized by the use of the following linguistic means: - at the level of vocabulary: the use of full names and exact dates; - bookish vocabulary (due to, during, because of, characterized by); - the use of words in their direct meanings; - the absence of expressive and evaluative vocabulary; - the frequent use of verbal nouns (approval, use, implementation); - the presence of standardized phrases (after the expiration of the term, in accordance with the established procedure, to enter into force); - limited possibilities for synonymous substitution, frequent lexical repetitions. "The title words, which are considered special lexicons, indicate that they are far from connotative, but are used in a denotative sense and have an emotional tinge only in this genre. In other styles, such words are used in a neutral style”. Vocabulary with an emotional tinge is used in business letters in phrases of appeal, in parts of request, refusal, and conclusion. When describing the property of accuracy, I. Galperin writes: "each official document has its own unique composition. Pacts, charters, orders and meeting proto-branches, codices and memoranda have one or another certain external form” [3, p.328]. So, the feature of accuracy presupposes the structure, compilation of an official document. Moreover, ambiguity in the International independent scientific journal №79/2025 34 language of official documents is not allowed, as it can lead to a dual understanding of what is written. The indicated stylistic features, in connection with each other, create a formal-business functional style system. These stylistic features, manifested in Englishlanguage official-business documents, play a huge role in creating a lexical, morphological and syntactic structure. We have already mentioned, the establishment of legal states and the laws of a market economy put forward a number of requirements for the modern field of business. These requirements are met through properly drawn up documents. Therefore, it is necessary to study the theoretical foundations for working with these documents. Many types of business documents have a generally accepted form of presentation and arrangement of material, which undoubtedly makes them easier and more convenient to use. It is no coincidence that in certain cases of business practice, ready-made forms are used that only need to be filled out. Even envelopes are customarily addressed in a specific order (varying from country to country, but firmly established in each of them), which has its advantages for both writers and postal workers. Therefore, all the speech clichés that simplify and speed up business communication are quite appropriate. Business documents have a number of linguistic features, which must meet the following requirements: 1) socio-cultural requirements for mutual understanding of the author and the party receiving the document, in other words, communicative, communication purpose; 2) certain stylistic norms; 3) pragmatic requirements of the text (accuracy and effectiveness of content); 4) lexical-semantic requirements; 5) logical and syntactic requirements [16, p.180]; When choosing and processing morphemes, word forms, word combinations, sentences and paragraph in business documents, the main attention is paid to the fact that they meet the norms of the official-business style of the English language. What specific form of manifestation of language we use determines communication that takes place in certain social conditions. Functional Stylistics studies socially conditioned types of language. The term "functional style" reflects the specific functions of language depending on the type of interaction of communication. When it comes to the classification of styles and the characteristics of styles, I. R. Galperin focuses more on the use of various lexical and grammatical means, on the feature of style development in a certain field of communication, that is, its functionality. He studies language functions, offers a description of functional styles based on a combination of stylistic functions. The official-business style that interests us here, according to I. V. Arnold, performs 2 functions: an intellectual communicative function and a pragmatic function [17, p. 26]. The main purpose or function of the official-business style is to interpret the terms that are binding on both parties and to achieve agreement between the two parties who have come to an agreement. Each substyle can be expressed in written and oral form. Official business documents exist mainly in a regulated written form and regulate the legal and business relations of individuals and legal entities. The oral form of official business speech - speeches at ceremonial meetings, banquets, reports of state and public figures, etc. is reflected. Thus, the regulatory function of the official-business style is indicated as the main function, that is, it reflects the establishment of norms and rules in the field of public relations (for example, relations between individuals, relations between groups and individuals, relations between social groups and institutions, etc.). The main purpose of such communication is to express the conditions that bind the two parties to the obligation. In other words, the purpose of communication in this style is to achieve agreement between the two parties who have come to an agreement [17, p.85]. Functional style is a system of interconnected language tools that serve a specific purpose in communication. It is not the linguistic means or stylistic techniques themselves, but precisely the interaction of linguistic means and stylistic techniques that make up the distinctive features of each style. Styles differ not only in lexical and grammatical features, but also in the frequency of use of the indicated linguistic units [3, p.332]. In the interrogative dictionary of linguistic terms, style is defined as follows: “Style – 1. The type of language characterized in terms of the choice of language means in relation to the purpose of communication, the ability to coordinate and combine selective units. Language style. Functional style. 2. The sum of the methods of using language tools typical for the author, work, genre. Fuzuli style. Classic style. Drama style. Satire style. 3. The use of language tools according to their expressive shade on the principle of selection and substitution. Book style. Satirical style. 4. Writing or speaking on the basis of the syntactic rules of the language and the norms of vocabulary. Artificial style. Sloppy styling. Wrong style”. "Language style-a style taken as one of the semi systems belonging to the language system [17, p.84]. The realization of such a semi system is considered a speech style. All styles grouped according to the functional and expressive principle are considered linguistic styles. ... Official-administrative style is a style used in business correspondence, official documents, papers belonging to departments, which is usually characterized by the use of archaic structure and words, word combinations. Functional styles-styles that are distinguished based on the main functions of the language (communication, information and influence). There are the following types: scientific style (information function), artistic style (influence function), press style (influence function), everyday-household style (communication function), official-administrative style (communication function)” "Official style is a style of inherent mainly in the language of state documents, which is characterized by its accuracy”. "Business style is a branch of the official literary language in which there is no or very International independent scientific journal №79/2025 35 little emotionality, as well as stamps typical of the stationery style are not used” [17, p.84]. In addition, we must add that this style not only performs communication, but also the function of informing, ordering and asking. Thus, the style of language can be defined as a system of language means intended for the performance of a certain communicative function and directed to a certain effect, or as interconnected and mutually conditioned language means. The difference between styles with a functional character is related to the word treasury of the language. Because the language first of all manifests its strength of expression in the lexical means of the language with stylistic nuances. However, the selection of grammatical forms, syntactic compositions and their use each time correspond to the requirements and goals of the functional style. "However, it should be noted that each of the functional styles creates a complex system. Functional styles are divided into different types of speech. It works through such speech activities. In the process, it is formed, developed and improved. For example, this process is carried out through political-diplomatic, socio-political, socio-legal conversations in the officialbusiness style” [14, p.136]. According to S.Fataliyeva’s idea, such terms as “functional style of language” and “functional style of speech” have the same essence [17, p. 83]. However, we cannot agree with this opinion, because in this case we would equate language and speech. T. Afandiyeva rightly writes about this: "in linguistic Stylistics, the styles of the literary language are named through various terms: language styles, speech styles, functional styles. Language is a system. It is a system of sounds, signs, images, words. It is speech that initiates this system and makes it operational. Language is a category in a relatively static state, and speech is its dynamics, movement and creation. And during this movement, speech contributes to the development of language, serves for its decomposition into styles. Style, like a fragment of the literary language, develops thanks to speech. Because style, as part of the language, which is a” system of systems", is also a system: it is a system consisting of a variety of types of genres. Therefore, the process of decomposition of the style continues inside: the style is divided into separate types of speech, serving different types of genres. For example, the officialbusiness style includes stationery, acts, protocols, applications, diplomatic correspondence, speeches of lawyers, various legal papers and documents, etc. it's about genres. And each style, which consists of the corresponding types of speech, performs its social function thanks to these types of speech. Therefore, it is more expedient to use the term functional style“ [15, p.184]. "By the norm of style we mean the specific norms and characteristics of each style. Normativity manifests itself differently in different functional styles. For example, building a statement in a formal business style necessarily requires compliance with all style rules. However, in scientific stylistic texts, the addition of non-stylistic overtones is allowed. This is done in order to emphasize and distinguish the individual authorship of the researcher” [14, p.136]. The term “norm” used by E. Coseriu corresponds to the term “functional style”. In his opinion, the norm – not what can be said, but what has already been said, and what is said according to tradition in society corresponds to it. The system covers the ideal forms of certain linguistic realization, i.e. the method (technique) and the standards for the corresponding linguistic activity; the norm, on the other hand, concentrates the models that have already been realized historically by means of this method and have been realized on these benchmarks. "The system is a system of possibilities, a system of encounters, and the norm is a system of forced realizations. A system is ideal forms of certain linguistic realizations, and the norm is a model, a historically technically realized template. The norm is synchronous, it is the external and internal balance of the system. Speakers do not perceive the norm of the language they speak, or it is in the subconscious layer, because this hour attracts attention when foreigners do not follow the norm. But all language carriers are well aware of this” [17, p.5]. There is also a special list of anthroponomy that refer to people with certain professions and specialties and the duties they perform, which is a business norm of the English language: "teller", "auditor", "accountant", "manager", "executor", "testator", "vendor", "purchaser". “In other (non-business) areas of the language, words with such lexical-semantic meaning are not used in the same way“. “At the syntactic level, it is possible to observe the development of parallel structures, explanatory-defining branched sentences, sentence models corresponding to the scientific style. texts written in the official-business style are not intended simply for reading. They are intended for correct, accurate analysis and study in a calm, relaxed environment. Therefore, they are distinguished by the fact that they contain a large number of long sentences” [16, p.104]. Norm-uses only part of the options offered by the system. In the same order, the functional style uses all the variety of linguistic material only its individual units and constructions. For each functional style, a set of frequently used typical forms is typical. E. Coseriu writes:” the norm includes existing elements manifested from its traditional point of view, whereas the language system is an open system that includes those that have not yet been realized in the virtual, but which may be possible in its processing on the basis of its distinctive encounters and rules of association " [14, p.136]. He reveals the functional style as follows: “functional styles are subsystems of language, each of which has its own specific features, which are found in lexicon, phraseology, syntactic units, and sometimes in phonetics. The formation and existence of functional styles is conditioned by the uniqueness of communication conditions in various fields of human activity.” S. Fataliyeva gives a clear and clear definition of the official-business style: “the task of the official-business style is related to the texts in which state and Public Administration documents are written. One of the main features of the official-business style is that it has a specific lexicon. So, in this style, explanation and descriptive means are no longer allowed to explain some International independent scientific journal №79/2025 36 issue. This style has its own peculiarities. Order, decision, contract, decree, law, resolution, charter, statement, ultimatum, etc. in official documents such as, the idea is concrete, consistent, clear and convincing. In the official-business style, standard phrases and ready-made expressions are used, artistic means of description are not used. In the official-business style, field terms, nationwide words are used, depending on the type of document [17, p.84]. "The use of official lexical units in other styles is conditional. These lexical units in many cases lose their formality. Official-business style in its oral form must strictly adhere to the orthoepic norms of the literary language. In this case, the use of phonetic dialethism is a violation of the norm. It is also important that lexical norms are observed in the official-business style. So, in this style, it is strictly forbidden to use During the investigation, it turns out that violations of the spelling rules in the language of official documents cannot be allowed at all. Because important official and state documents have a certain functional essence of secrecy and absolutism” [14, p.116]. The verbal form of the official-business style should also be used less often than polysyllabic compound words. The overload of the official-business style with such words, which is already considered a heavy style in its character, leads to the disappearance of a number of its specific features (fast-and clear speech, providing a lot and comprehensive information in little time)” [7, p.19]. The main features of this style are: precision, impersonal character, stereotypical text structure, prescriptive character. Scope of application: laws, bylaws, orders, regulations, certificates, instructions, announcements, business letters, reports, memos, etc. The official business style is a type of literary language that serves the sphere of official business relations: relations bet ween government authorities and the population, between countries, between enterprises, organizations, institutions, between the individual and society. The official-business style is a functional style of speech, a means of written communication in the field of business relations: in the field of legal relations and management. This area covers international relations, the economy, the military industry, the field of advertising, communication in official institutions, and government activities. Sub-styles: legislative (used in the field of state administration, the volitional nature of the function is manifested); administrative-chancellery (conducting personal business papers, institution documents, emphasizes the nature of administrative relations - loans, advances); diplomatic sub-style (at the international level, relations between the government and diplomats) [1, p.121]. The official business style is the style of documents: international treaties, state acts, legal laws, regulations, statutes, instructions, official correspondence, business papers, etc. Despite the differences in content and the variety of genres, the official business style is generally characterized by a number of common features. These include: 1) conciseness, compactness of presentation, and economical use of language resources; 2) standard arrangement of the material, the frequent requirement for a form (identity card, various kinds of diplomas, birth and marriage certificates, money documents, etc.), the use of terms characteristic of this style 3) extensive use of terminology, names (legal, diplomatic, military, administrative, etc.), the presence of a special vocabulary and phraseology (official, clerical), the inclusion of abbreviated words and acronyms in the text; 4) narrative nature of the presentation, the use of nominative sentences with enumeration; 5) the direct order of words in a sentence as the predominant principle of its construction; 6) the tendency to use complex sentences that reflect the logical subordination of one fact to another; 7) the almost complete absence of emotionally expressive speech devices and established expressions; 8) the weak individualization of style. Official business style serves: a) the sphere of business relations, b) the area of law; c) the area of interstate politics. This is the most ancient of the book styles. Among the bookish styles of the English language, the official-business style stands out for its relative stability and closed nature. Over time, it naturally undergoes some changes due to the nature of the content itself, but many of its features, historically established genres, specific vocabulary, phraseology, and syntactic patterns, give it a generally conservative character. Many types of business documents have established forms of presentation and organization, which makes them easier to use. Often, ready-made forms are used, which only need to be filled out. For example, it is customary to write envelopes in a certain order, different in different countries, but firmly established in each of them - it is convenient for both writers and postal workers. Therefore, speech clichés that simplify and speed up business communication are quite appropriate in it [2, p.264]. The main functions of the official business style: communicating information and influencing the addressee. Hence the main modes of speech: stating (communicating about something existing) and imperative (commanding). The main genres: international treaties, government acts, legal laws, decrees, orders, charters, instructions, official correspondence, business papers (certificates, certificates, powers of attorney, applications, etc.). All genres of the official business style are different documents. The official business style has a dual nature: on the one hand, it expresses specific content (and is close to the scientific style), on the other hand, it is in contact with everyday life (for example, in the sphere of administrative and economic activity) and must be understandable to any person (unlike the scientific style). This duality determined the following main features of the official business style: precision of wording, which does not allow for the possibility of another interpretation; clarity and detail of presentation (especially in laws, instructions, etc.); laconicism (brevity) of the International independent scientific journal №79/2025 37 text, which is achieved by the economical use of linguistic means, excluding verbosity; standard presentation (achieved by the use of stable formulas of business language); standard text design (determined by the current GOST); neutral tone of presentation (emotionally colored and expressive vocabulary is excluded). ODS functions mainly in written form, but its oral form is not excluded: speeches of state and public figures at meetings, receptions, ceremonial meetings, business negotiations, oral orders, etc. [11, p.25]. It is known that the vocabulary of the language is divided into two large groups: the general and the group used in the field of destruction. Since the common words of the vocabulary form the basis of the lexicon of the language, they are used in all styles and areas: political, economic, cultural, domestic, etc. Therefore, various thematic groups are distinguished within the generally changing words. There are no restrictions on the processing of these. ”Lexicon belonging to a limited circle of use is used within a certain space, or in a circle of people united by a profession, a social trait, a common interest" [2, p.264]. Terms also refer to the limited scope of use. Terms are units of a particular branch of science. The term (lat. terminus-limit, limit) is a word or combination of words that accurately and unambiguously names a certain concept belonging to a particular field and states its connection with other concepts. According to the calculations of scientists, the share of terminological lexicon in texts of this style can reach up to 25%. “Unlike terms, that is, the official scientific names of special concepts, art-professional units act in oral speech as 'semi-official' words that do not carry strict scientific prostration”. However, terms, art-professional units and international abbreviations are closely related. Three layers are distinguished in the lexicon of business documents: scientific and technical lexicon; special lexicon (terms) and general lexicon. The main goal of developing a special lexicon is to create aspects of formality, clarity and non-emotionality in documents related to the business style. Along with official terms, the official style of the English language also uses professional words, barbarism and units belonging to colloquial discourse. This also proves that official language is to some extent emotional-expressive. Professional words related to the military lexicon: tin fish (literal: tin fish) - submarine; tin-hat (literal: tin hat) - steel helmet; piper (military trumpeter); outer (knock out with a blow) [9, p.252]. Unlike borrowed words, barbarisms are not assimilated in the language and retain their own external form. The words and phrases from Latin and French are mainly used in barbarisms. Barbarisms are divided into two groups: 1. Those that are used as synonyms of real English terms. For example, in the field of law: habeas corpus (lat.)- a court order to transfer a prisoner to ruin in order to check the legality of the arrest, to check the legality of the charge; crime false (lat.) - fraud; corpus juris (lat.) - code of law/charter, quorum (lat.) - quorum; status quo (lat.). 2. Auxiliary phrases used in speech. For example, clarifying, complementing the idea that is regularly processed and expressed in legal discourse: prima facie (lat.)- at first glance; in toto (lat.)- whole; bona fide (lat.)- conscience/ sincere, (a bona fide confession-sincere confession); par excellence (fren.)- most often, mainly, pro tempore (lat.)- temporary; condition sine qua non (lat.)- absolute condition; mutatis mutandis (lat.)- with appropriate /desired modifications. Professional words used in the field of Law: Civil and Political Rights; Commission on Human Rights; Freedom of opinion and expression; Freedom of religion; Freedom of peaceful assembly and association. In the field of law, separate colloquial words can act as terms or professional words: slander finding - court order, begging, four corners - the legal meaning of which is the full text of the document and the whole (not in parts) value, forum shopping - the search for judges by the parties in the event (it is believed that this may lead to a favorable outcome), gentlemen's agreement - is an unwritten agreement that cannot be enforced by law, but is supported by the conscience of the parties, heir / collateral heir / lineal heir – heir/indirect heir/first degree heir, hornbook - a textbook that is considered authoritative in the field of law and is often cited in it lame duck – an unelected official man, law of the land - laws operating in a specific country, loansharking - illegal business of lending money at interest; magistrate-having limited jurisdiction or responsibility judicial officer; used in colloquial speech as a synonym for the word judge; on all fours - a legal precedent or event, the exact nature of the case under consideration; squandering (in the military field: waste) [11, p.25]. In the official-business style, the lexical norms of the literary language are strictly observed: the text does not include informal, dialect and slang lexicon. We correctly note that some of the linguistic units act as terms in the functional aspect; and in the structural aspect - as idioms. Therefore, the boundary between the term and the idiom is uncertain. In the examples presented below, the terms idiom is characteristic, and this characteristic serves to perform a number of communicative functions. Idioms are divided into 4 groups according to the denotative functions they perform: 1) idioms used in a narrow sense. Pardon-forgiveness, as a form of forgiveness; hard labor (literally– hard labor) as a form of hard work, hard work in the true sense; 2) idioms used in a broad sense. The true meaning of these idioms is broader in volume than the initial literal meaning. For example: kidnapping (kid “child” + nab/nap “steal”) – literally means “child abduction”, but its real meaning denotes the abduction of people of any age: “kidnapping. The felony of abducting an individual by force”. And this meaning is much broader than the original meaning. Also: housebreaking (literally - storming a dwelling) in the real sense – illegal entry into any premises (that is, not only a dwelling). 3) idioms whose meanings have partially changed. For example, manslaughter (literally - massacre) legal meaning - not intentional homicide. 4) idioms used figuratively. This includes all types of metaphor and metonymy. For example: to churn - the