In this article we will talk about such a linguistic concept as “clericalism”. Examples, basic properties and the scope of use of this linguistic phenomenon will be examined by us in particular detail.
In the Russian language, clericalism belongs to such a linguistic group as speech stamps. Therefore, we will first understand what this phenomenon is.
What are speech stamps
Let's start by examining the most common mistakes that are made both in writing and in communication.
Stamps and clericalism (examples of which will be presented below) are closely interrelated. More precisely, the linguistic phenomenon we are considering is one of the types of cliches (this concept refers to such words and expressions that are often used, which is why they have lost their meaning). Therefore, such constructions simply overload the speaker’s speech and are considered excessive.
Stamps are words and turns, often used in speech. Typically, such linguistic phenomena do not have any specificity. For example, the turnover “meeting was at the highest level” is used instead of providing a detailed report on the event.
What is clericalism in Russian? Examples
In the Russian language there are a number of words, the use of which is considered appropriate only in a specific style of speech. Such words include clericalism. This term is used to call words, grammatical constructions and forms, as well as phrases, the use of which is fixed in the literary language for the official-business style. For example: to petition, it is appropriate, activities that do not pursue the goal of making a profit, carry out control , etc.
Signs of clericalism
Now we define the signs of such words and consider examples.
Clericalism - the words of the official business style, however, in addition to this, they have a number of purely linguistic characteristics. Among them are:
- The use of verbal nouns: non-fixed (hijacking, sewing, day off); suffix (taking, revealing, bloating, finding).
- Replacement of a compound verb by a simple verb (splitting the predicate). For example: to show a desire - instead of wanting, to make a decision - instead of deciding, to provide help - instead of helping .
- Use of prequalified prepositions. For example: in part, along the line, in force, to the address, in the context, in the field, due to, in the plan, in the matter, at the level .
- Stringing cases, usually genitive. For example, the conditions necessary to raise the level of culture of the population of the region .
- Replacing active revolutions with passive ones. For example, we have established an active turnover - we have carried out a passive establishment .
Why can not abuse stationery?
Clericalism and speech cliches (examples confirm this), often used in speech, lead to the fact that she loses her imagery, expressiveness, conciseness, individuality. As a result of this, the following shortcomings arise:
- Mix of styles. For example: after short-term rainfall fell, a rainbow shone in all its glory over the pond .
- The ambiguity generated by verbal nouns. For example, the phrase “approval of a professor” can be understood both as “professors affirm” and how “professor affirms”.
- Verbosity, weighting of speech. For example: by improving the level of service, the turnover in commercial and state stores should increase significantly.
Clericalism, the examples of which we have presented, deprives speech of imagery, expressiveness, and persuasiveness. Because they are frequently used expressions with a blurred lexical meaning, tarnished expressivity.
Typically, journalists tend to use stamps. Therefore, in a journalistic style, such expressions are especially common.
What words refer to clericalism
Naturally looks only in business speech clericalism. Examples of their use indicate that very often these words are used in other styles of speech, which is considered a gross stylistic error. In order to prevent such a mistake, you need to know exactly what words refer to clericalism.
So, clericalism can be characterized by:
- Archaic solemnity: named, aforementioned, charge, the bearer of this, is to be claimed, as such.
- At the same time, clericalism can also be everyday-businesslike: to speak (in significant terms to discuss ), to hear, move, puzzle, specifics, developments .
- The speech is given official official business nouns formed from verbs with the following suffixes: - ut, -at, -ani, -eni: beginning, taking, finding ; non-fixed: time off, hijacking, tailoring, hiring, supervision ; words with prefixes under-, not-: non-detection, non-identification, under-fulfillment, non-admission.
- In addition, a number of nouns, participles, adverbs, verbs, connectives and adjectives are strictly related to the business sphere of communication. For example: party, customer, client, principal, owner, person, reporting, victim, vacant, outgoing, immediately, free of charge, be, appear, be .
- The official-business coloring differs in a number of official words: to the address, at the expense of, on the basis of, and so on. For example: according to the contract, in connection with the termination of the agreement, in case of refusal to comply with the contract, as a result of research , etc.
- Such turnovers include the following compound items: food, law enforcement agencies, a vehicle, the public sector, and diplomatic relations.
When is it appropriate to use the term “clericalism”
Clericalism (we examined the examples of words in detail above), according to the laws of the literary language, should be used only in an official business style. Then these turns are not distinguished from the text.
The very term "clericalism" is appropriate to use only in those cases when such words and phrases are used in someone else's style. Then the speech becomes inexpressive, official in nature, loses its emotionality, liveliness, naturalness and simplicity.
Clericalism as a stylistic device
But clericalism is not always referred to as speech defects. Examples from literary works show that often similar words and phrases are used as a stylistic device. For example, for the speech characteristics of the hero.
Often, writers use clericalism to create a humorous effect. For example, Zoshchenko, Chekhov, Saltykov-Shchedrin, Ilf and Petrov. For example, in Saltykov-Shchedrin - “... it is forbidden to poke out eyes, take away the head, bite the nose”; for Chekhov - "the killing was due to drowning."
Clericalism (examples of words we examined in some detail) in Russia reached the greatest distribution during the period of stagnation, when they penetrated into all spheres of speech, including even everyday speech. This example once again confirms the idea that language is a reflection of all the changes that are taking place in the country and society.