In this article we will talk about such a linguistic concept as "clericalism". Examples, the main properties and scope of this linguistic phenomenon will be considered by us in particular detail.
In Russian, clericalisms belong to such a language group as speech stamps. Therefore, let's first understand what kind of phenomenon it is.
What are speech stamps
Let's start by looking at the most common mistakes that are made both in writing and in communication.
Stamps and stationery (examples of which will be presented below) are closely related. More precisely, the linguistic phenomenon we are considering is one of the types of cliches (this concept names such words and expressions that are often used, due to which they have lost their meaning). Therefore, such constructions simply overload the speaker's speech and are considered redundant.
Stamps are words and expressions often used in speech. Usually such linguistic phenomena do not have any concreteness. For example, the phrase "the meeting was held at the highest level" is used instead of giving a detailed account of the event.
What is clericalism inin Russian? Examples
In Russian there are a number of words, the use of which is considered appropriate only in a particular style of speech. These 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 official business style. For example: solicit, should, activity not pursuing the goal of making a profit, exercise control, etc.
Signs of clericalism
Now let's define the signs of similar words and consider examples.
Officialisms are the words of an official business style, however, besides this, they have a number of purely linguistic features. Among them are:
- The use of verbal nouns: non-suffixed (stealing, tailoring, time off); suffixes (taking, revealing, inflating, finding).
- Replacement by a compound nominal predicate of a simple verb (predicate splitting). For example: show a desire - instead of wishing, make a decision - instead of deciding, provide help - instead of helping.
- Using denominative prepositions. For example: in part, along the line, in force, in the address, in the context, in the region, at the expense, in the plan, in the case, 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 set an active turnover - we set up a passive turnover.
Why shouldn't we overuse clericalism?
Chancery and speech stamps (examples confirm this), often used in speech, lead to the fact that it loses its imagery, expressiveness, conciseness, individuality. As a result, the following shortcomings arise:
- Mixing styles. For example: after short-term precipitation in the form of rain fell, a rainbow shone over the reservoir in all its glory.
- The ambiguity generated by verbal nouns. For example, the phrase "professor's statement" can be understood both as "professors state" and as "professor states".
- Verbosity, weighting of speech. For example: by improving the level of service, turnover in commercial and government stores should increase significantly.
The clericalism, examples of which we have presented, deprives speech of figurativeness, expressiveness, and persuasiveness. Because they are frequently used expressions with erased lexical meaning, tarnished expressiveness.
Usually journalists tend to use stamps. Therefore, in a journalistic style, such expressions are especially common.
Which words refer to clericalism
Looks natural 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 mistake. In order to prevent such an oversight,you need to know exactly what words are classified as clericalism.
So, clericalism can be characterized by:
- Archaic solemnity: named, aforesaid, charge, giver of this, due, claim, such.
- At the same time, clericalisms can also be businesslike: to speak (meaning to discuss), to hear, progress, puzzle, specifics, developments.
- Nouns formed from verbs with the following suffixes give speech an official business coloring: -ut, -at, -ani, -eni: beginning, taking, finding; non-suffixed: day off, theft, tailoring, hiring, supervision; words with prefixes under-, non-: non-detection, non-detection, under-fulfillment, non-admission.
- In addition, a number of nouns, participles, adverbs, linking verbs 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, to be, to be, to be.
- A number of service words are distinguished by their official business coloring: to the address, at the expense, 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, vehicle, public sector, diplomatic relations.
When is it appropriate to use the term "clericalism"
Chancery (examples of words we discussed in detail above), according to the laws of the literary language, should be used only in an official business style. Then these phrases do not stand out against the background of the text.
The very same term "clericalism" is appropriate to use only in cases where such words and phrases are used in someone else's style. Then the speech acquires an inexpressive, bureaucratic character, loses its emotionality, liveliness, naturalness and simplicity.
Chancellery as a stylistic device
But clericalism is not always attributed to speech shortcomings. Examples from works of art show that such words and expressions are often used as a stylistic device. For example, for the speech characteristics of the hero.
Writers often use clericalism to create a humorous effect. For example, Zoshchenko, Chekhov, S altykov-Shchedrin, Ilf and Petrov. For example, in S altykov-Shchedrin - "… it is forbidden to gouge out an eye, take away a head, bite off a nose"; Chekhov - "the killing occurred due to drowning."
Chancellorisms (we examined examples of words 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 life. This example once again confirms the idea that the language is a reflection of all the changes that are taking place in the country and society.
