The language of literature and the system of functional styles of standard language

The article deals with the position of the language of literature in the system of functional styles of the standard language. The language of literature is traditionally perceived as a literary or fictional functional style which together with the administrative, journalistic, scientific and colloquial styles makes the system of functional styles of the standard language. However, it is a point at issue if the language of literature as such really is a functional style of the standard language or, because it differs from the language of other functional styles and because of its special relation to the language system and standard language, it should be considered as a language sui generis. The article specifies characteristics of the language of literature and differences between it and the language of functional styles. It also tries to show how the language of literature actually is the language sui generis and that it should be perceived in a different way and studied by means of methodology different from the traditional methodology of functional styles.