Everyone knows that the punctuation mark is a dot, comma, question mark, and exclamation mark. And what are there and why are they needed?
Essence
A punctuation mark is an extra-alphabetical graphic unit of a language that helps structure written text. Their use is regulated using punctuation rules that are individual for each language. They are not always easy to learn, so there are a lot of mistakes in this section. So, when learning foreign languages, very few programs include punctuation. Nevertheless, this section is no less important than grammar or spelling, although it is needed only in written language. So what are the punctuation marks?
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The main punctuation units in any language are a period, a comma, and also question and exclamation marks. With their help, you can correctly express your thought, although not always with sufficient accuracy. In total, ten icons are used in modern Russian language: in addition to the ones already mentioned, this is a dash and a colon, which will be discussed separately. In addition, these are parentheses and quotation marks that have a separation function. Also the ellipsis, the final thought, and the semicolon, playing the same role, but within the same sentence.
As you can see, the list is small, but each of the listed punctuation units has its own purpose. Sometimes they are interchangeable, but more often they are not.
Classification
There are several options for separating punctuation units. Firstly, on the basis of pairing. That is, in the case of setting one punctuation mark, it is necessary to supplement it with a second. The category of doubles includes brackets, quotation marks, as well as double commas and dashes.
According to the second classification, all punctuation marks can be divided into 3 categories. For example, such:
- Highlights They are intended to indicate the boundaries of various syntactic constructions and isolation. Paired characters belong to this category. They allow you to clearly structure the proposal and see its significant parts.
- Signs of separation. They mark the boundary between independent proposals, including as part of complex structures. In addition, they indicate the type of sentence for the purpose of the statement. This includes everything that is not included in the first paragraph.
- Sometimes a red line is highlighted separately. It denotes a change of topic or a new twist in the narrative or reasoning.
Functions
It may seem that in the modern world punctuation is already atavism. As a rule, without dots you can distinguish between sentences, and even without commas it is most often clear what is at stake. What can we say about other signs that are much less common? Nevertheless, it is extremely difficult to do without them.
Firstly, they allow you to make mental pauses and delimit phrases without turning the text into a meaningless set of letters and words. Secondly, they convey a huge number of different shades - uncertainty, semi-assertion, etc. Without such a powerful tool as punctuation, it would be very difficult to achieve this. In addition, it would be extremely difficult to understand official documents, contracts and contracts without punctuation marks. A wrong comma can completely change the meaning of the whole sentence - and this is not a joke.
So the role of punctuation is important, no matter how their opponents say otherwise. In the end, many linguists are of the opinion that any unnecessary introductions in the language simply do not take root, while significant parts are preserved in any case. And then, the famous “you can’t have mercy on execution” is just one example, but in reality there are thousands of them. Any punctuation mark is an important part of the sentence that should not be neglected.
History of origin and development
It is difficult to imagine how to do without punctuation, but the current situation is relatively recent, and perhaps the development process of this language section is still ongoing. Nevertheless, it is very interesting to observe how the origin and development of punctuation occurred.
The most ancient punctuation mark is the point that occurs even in ancient Russian written monuments. But its use was not regulated in any way, and the arrangement on the line was different - not in the bottom, but in the middle. The rules for its staging became more similar to the modern ones around the sixteenth century.
The comma gained distribution approximately in the 15th century. Its name comes from the obsolete verb denoting stop, delay. In this case, the word “stammering” will be one-root. And the most observant will notice one more. For example, the fact that "punctuation" by etymology goes back to the same root.
Most of the other signs were introduced into widespread use until the XVIII century. Their popularization was promoted by Lomonosov, Karamzin and many other prominent scientists. The modern rules for punctuation of the Russian language were adopted in 1956 and are still valid.
Proper use of punctuation units
Punctuation is not always easy. At the end of the sentence there are four options to choose from, and inside the phrase ... It is not surprising that so much time is devoted to the study of punctuation. It will be somewhat difficult to remember all the rules, but the basic ones are simply necessary.
Commas: Correct Use
Since this particular sign is the most common, it is not surprising that it is the one that has the most problems. A comma is a sign that separates simple sentences as part of a complex. It is also used in transfers, to highlight introductory structures, applications, isolation of participles, participles and comparative turns, and many other purposes. Listing them all is perhaps quite difficult, since this is a huge part of the school curriculum. However, it should be remembered that the comma also always highlights the appeal. Punctuation marks require careful attention, and neglecting the rules of their arrangement for a native speaker is, first and foremost, disrespect for one's own person.
Direct Speech and Dialogue
This topic is the most difficult for both schoolchildren and adults. And if there are fewer problems with the dialogue, because there just dashes are placed before each line, then punctuation marks in direct speech become just a stumbling block, especially if you still use introducing words.
In order to properly arrange this part of the text, you need to know that the replica itself, together with its own punctuation marks, is indicated by quotation marks. If you use introducing words, then instead of a period, a comma is used, which in this case is moved outside the statement. Question and exclamation marks are always preserved. As for the design of the author’s words, it depends on the division of replicas. If they are a single sentence, interrupted by an explanation, then it is written with a small letter and highlighted with a dash and a colon. Only one pair of quotation marks is placed - at the beginning and at the end of direct speech. Probably, in theory this sounds a bit confusing, but practice is not difficult to figure out.
Using Dashes and Colons
Grammar in the Russian language assumes the existence of unionless sentences, and this means the demand for the above punctuation marks. Their purpose is approximately the same, and both of them can be replaced by a comma, which, however, will not convey the desired shades.
A colon is necessary if the next part or even the whole simple sentence more fully reveals the meaning of the previous one, adds details, etc. Dashes - in the opposite situation. Of course, they have other functions, but this is also a fairly large part of the school curriculum, which deserves detailed consideration.
Differences in punctuation of Russian and European languages
Studying our native, we do not always wonder what punctuation marks exist in foreign dialects, and whether they carry the same function. Of course, the punctuation rules also differ, but the conversation is not about them now.
A vivid example is the Spanish language. Interrogative and exclamatory sentences in it are highlighted more noticeably, because the corresponding signs are placed not only at the end, but also at the beginning of phrases, so that they are paired along with quotation marks or brackets.
By the way, in English often, instead of the ellipsis, at the end of direct speech you can find a dash. And the Greeks can put [;] instead of a question mark. It’s difficult to guess without knowing. So it’s not always worth thinking about the rules that the Russian language sets. Punctuation marks and how to use them everywhere are different.
Oriental languages
Japanese and Chinese remain true to tradition, despite the influence of Europe. So, the point looks like a circle and is sometimes placed in the center of the line, and sometimes like the usual one. This was done to avoid confusion, since the European sign could be taken as part of the last character.
There are also two kinds of commas: regular and teardrop-shaped. The first, for example, shares simple sentences as part of a complex, and the second - homogeneous members.
Little-known punctuation marks
It may seem that the previously named list is more than exhaustive. But, oddly enough, this is not so. So, what punctuation marks exist, which few people know about, and they are practically not used? Allocate a little more than a dozen of the most famous:
- Interrobang. This combination in one unit of a question and exclamation mark looks exotic, but interesting. Of course, it’s easier and more familiar to write “?!”, All the more so since the meaning will be the same, but supporters of the introduction of the inter-bank believe that it looks more representative on the letter.
- Rhetorical question mark. He was in use for about 20 years at the junction of the XVI and XVII centuries. In fact, it is a mirror image of the usual question mark.
- Asterism. Previously, chapters or parts of them were separated from each other by precisely this sign, which was three stars arranged in a triangle. But quite a long time ago they were replaced by the same asterism, but located in the form of a straight segment.
- Ironic sign. It may seem that it is too similar to rhetorical, although it is smaller, is located above the line and carries a completely different function, as the name implies. It was invented in the 19th century.
- Love sign. Its function is also obvious from the name, and it itself is a combination of two interrogative, mirror to each other, with one point.
- Conciliation mark. It is a combination of two exclamation points with one dot. Expresses a goodwill demonstration or greeting.
- A sign of confidence. Performs the function of emphasizing a firm opinion regarding the statement made. It is an exclamation mark crossed out by a short horizontal line.
- Interrogative comma. It is used to emphasize interrogative intonation within a single sentence. By analogy with it, there is an exclamation point.
- Sarcastic sign. It is a kind of snail with a dot inside and is protected by copyright. It is used to emphasize separately that the proposal behind which it is located contains sarcasm.
- Snark sign. It can also be typed on a regular keyboard, since this is just a dot and the next tilde - [. ~]. It is used to show that the proposal that he is following should not be taken literally, and there is hidden meaning in it.
Quite an interesting set, but to many it seems redundant. And although the role of some of these signs seems necessary, language ultimately displaces inappropriate and unused things. This is probably what happened in this case.
However, natural languages are far from the only discipline in which there is the concept of punctuation. However, this topic requires separate consideration. It will be much more appropriate to consider the influence of modern trends on the placement of punctuation marks.
Punctuation and netiquette
Since communication on the Internet initially most often implies informality, some simplification and disregard for the rules of the Russian (and not only) language are quite natural. There is even a concept of network etiquette, which includes the question of how to place punctuation marks.
So, for example, the point at the end of a long dialogue is a sign that the interlocutor wants to close the topic. In other cases, it looks rude and cold. A large number of exclamation points mean, depending on the context, violent negative or positive emotions. Ellipsis can show despair, thoughtfulness, melancholy and some other shades of mood, which can hardly be called positive. The arrangement of commas in network communication is rarely the subject of serious thought, because the goal is to convey the essence to the interlocutor, and the design of thought in this case is secondary. Nevertheless, one cannot neglect the arrangement of question marks - this is a bad manners.
Although these rules differ from the general ones, remembering them is easy. And, of course, you need to consider that they do not relate to business and official correspondence, which must be correctly and correctly formatted. A punctuation mark is a powerful tool that you need to use carefully.