What is a cliche, and what is its purpose

There are several answers to the question of what a cliché is, since the word is ambiguous. All interpretations, however, come from a lexeme borrowed from the French language - clicher, which translates as "stereotype, copy."

Two meanings of the word

In language guides, information about what a cliché is is given in accordance with the two main areas of use of this word. The first, immediate, meaning is a relief pattern on a material (wood, plastic, metal, etc.), from which a graphic print can be made. Such an image was created by engraving, carving, electroplating, and other, less common methods for obtaining a convex, protruding on the plane of a drawing or drawing. Later, such forms were made by zincography. A specially made form with which you can make a print is what the printing cliché is. The cliche was used for printing illustrations, as well as for large-print publications.

The second meaning of the word cliché is figurative. So they call words or whole phrases that differ in a commonplace, well-known meaning. That's what a speech cliche is. Stereotypic expressions are often referred to as speech stamps. And here, too, a completely technical lexeme is used in a figurative sense: a stamp is a tool of a given form by which an impression is made, mainly on documents. In this phrase, as well as in the terms “hackneyed formula”, “template thinking”, the language captures the main functional feature of the words denoting a certain frozen standard, and uses it in a metaphor to give a bright lexical coloring.

Some Speech Clichés

Let's take a closer look at what cliches are in speech. Among typical patterns, speech use patterns in specific, specific situations and groups stand out. Their cliches exist both in the official and in the informal environment.

For example, clichéd language formulas are used by ideological cliches, which are used by politicians and journalists who describe politics and government activities. Such phrases are often found in the programs of parties and political groups. The main task of such cliches is to give a concise definition and assessment of political events and individuals. Adjacent to them are propaganda clichés that are used to manipulate the public consciousness.

Time changes - verbal formulas change

In the recent Soviet era there were cliches known to everyone: “the Lenin’s cause lives and triumphs”, “the party’s general line” and the like. With regard to America and Europe, whipping structures such as "NATO minions", "capital mercenaries" and "corrupting influence of the West" were used. At a time when the country, in the person of then-leader Nikita Khrushchev, condemned the Stalinist paradigm of government, new clichés appeared - "personality cult", "Khrushchev thaw." Then perestroika happened, the state focused on “Western values” and new cliches sounded: “democratic beacon”, “yellow press”, “voting by ruble”, etc.

What is a cliche in the literature?

These are well-established themes and motives that are most characteristic of oral art samples. The hero, whom everyone around us considers a fool and nonsense, becomes a winner thanks to savvy, courage and patience. The most beautiful heroine will certainly be the winner's wife. The rich are stupid and stupid to the point of absurdity. Those in whose hands power and control are concentrated are usually inert and cowardly, and at the end they are shamed. These are the clichéd motifs of folklore. As an example, one can cite the proverbs, beginnings, endings of folk tales: “Once upon a time ...”; “And I was there, I drank honey beer, flowed down my mustache, but didn’t get into my mouth”; “And they began to live, live, and make good.”

In a creative environment, cliches are perceived negatively and ridiculed. This is not surprising: art is based on creative imagination and the creation of something new. But often art uses standard plot forms to create the effect expected by viewers or readers. For example, the plot move, when in the finale defenseless heroes are saved, and the negative ones die, it is an undoubted (and justified from the point of view of the mass audience) art cliché.

What is a cliche in the examination paper

Standard verbal formulas can serve a useful service when writing text or constructing an oral response in an exam.

Suppose we have identified a problem in a particular area of ​​science, culture or sociology and want to point out its relevance. Then you can use the following speech cliches: “This problem is important (topical, acute, significant) in the conditions of a modern market economy (against the background of the need to preserve traditional values; in the context of creating a rule of law; overcoming a moral crisis, etc.).

Formulating the main idea, you can use cliches such as “I believe ...”, “I am sure ...”, “agree that ...”.

If we decide to substantiate our point of view, using the quote of the author who spoke on this issue, we can adopt the following formulations: “My opinion coincides with the idea of ​​saying such a thinker (political scientist, economist, art critic) that ...” ; “In my opinion, such and such an author very accurately (capaciously, eloquently, expressively) said about this ...”; "One cannot but agree with the statement of such and such an author that ..."; "Such an author was right in asserting that ..."

In conclusion, we must summarize what has been said. We will use such cliches, for example: "To summarize, I note that ..."; "We can conclude ..."; "From what has been said it follows that ..."

So, the word "cliché" has two meanings. The main one is the form for typographic printing, and the figurative one is the standard language wording, a worn-out saying, a stereotypical plot move, motive, theme.