Speech etiquette examples from life and literature. Formulas and typical situations of speech etiquette and communication
Concept and factors speech etiquette
Definition 1
Speech etiquette is a stable system of communication that ascribes to society the rules for establishing speech communication to maintain communication in a certain tone, respectively. social statuses, roles and positions, environment.
In a broad sense, speech etiquette performs a regulatory function in the process of communication (for example, communication by age status, youth or professional norms).
In a narrow sense, speech etiquette is a semantic field of the functional type of a polite model of behavior in the following acts of communication: appeal, acquaintance, gratitude, request, apology, etc.
The richness of synonymous rows of units of speech etiquette is due to the coming into contact of different social characteristics communicators in different social interactions.
Factors taken into account in speech etiquette:
- Pragmatic, a unit of etiquette in which a speech act takes into account the principle of politeness and cooperation;
- Linguistic, differentiates a unit of etiquette as a word, phrase, correctly pronounced from the point of view of language;
- The stylistic factor differentiates the forms of communication among the public, generations, partners, etc.;
- Culturological, considers speech etiquette as an integral part folk culture and norms of behavior inherent in a given territorial community.
Rules and requirements of speech etiquette
There are two types of communication rules:
- Prohibitory – rules of conduct in a closed communication system (in an organization, in a family, in a team, etc.);
- Recommendatory - rules of speech communication in an open communication system (in society, on cultural events and etc.).
At the same time, requirements, prohibitions and recommendations are formed for the culture of speech behavior.
Speech requirements include:
- Correctness and purity of pronunciation in accordance with the literary norms of the language;
- Accuracy of speech in terminology and professionalism;
- The appropriateness of speech in the choice of tone and style of communication;
- Communicativeness and expediency, avoiding rudeness, tactlessness and unclear pronunciation;
- Ethics of communication, taking into account the rules of treatment, agreement and praise.
Speech prohibitions to avoid conflict situation and improve communication comfort include:
- Ban on tonality (disdain, lisp);
- Prohibition of expressions (rude, offensive);
- Prohibition on gestures (intimidation, offense);
- Prohibition of voice (stuttering, unintelligibility).
Commandments of communication and special cases
The basic commandments of successful and productive communication, the basic provisions of speech etiquette:
- Avoid verbosity and speech monotony;
- Speak simply, clearly, accessible;
- Know why and what to talk about;
- Know how to find mutual language with every person;
- Politeness is the basis of success in any area of human life;
- Know how to listen.
Special cases of application of etiquette rules:
- Establishing rapport is associated with treating others ethically and kindly. The main word in this case should be “hello”, “greetings”, “good afternoon/morning/evening”. To attract attention, it is allowed to use phrases: “let me address you,” “excuse me,” etc.
- Addressing your opponent. It is now considered more appropriate to address people by name and patronymic, position held. It is not allowed to indicate personal characteristics the communicator – his gender, age, faith and others;
- Completion of the contact should leave a positive impression of the narrator. It is considered important not only to politely say goodbye, but also to leave words of gratitude and a warm atmosphere further cooperation or dialogue.
7.2. Speech etiquette formulas
Any act of communication has a beginning, a main part and a final part. If the addressee is unfamiliar to the subject of speech, then communication begins with acquaintance. Moreover, it can occur directly or indirectly. According to the rules good manners It is not customary to enter into a conversation with a stranger and introduce yourself. However, there are times when this needs to be done. Etiquette prescribes the following formulas:
Let me get to know you (you).
I would like to meet you (you).
Let me get to know you.
Let me introduce you.
Let's get acquainted.
Let's get to know each other.
It would be nice to meet you.
When visiting the passport office, dormitory, admissions committee educational institution, any institution, office, when you have a conversation with an official, you need to introduce yourself to him using one of the formulas:
Let me introduce myself.
My last name is Kolesnikov.
I'm Pavlov.
My name is Yuri Vladimirovich.
Nikolai Kolesnikov.
Anastasia Igorevna.
If the visitor does not identify himself, then the one to whom they came asks himself:
What is your (your) last name?
What is your (your) name, patronymic?
What is your (your) name?
What is your (your) name?
Official and informal meetings of acquaintances, and sometimes strangers start with a greeting.
In Russian, the main greeting is hello. It goes back to the Old Slavonic verb zdravstavat, which means “to be sound,” i.e. healthy. Verb to say hello old times It also had the meaning “to greet” (cf.: greet), as evidenced by the text of the “Onega epic”: “How Ilya comes here from Muromets, and long live he the prince and the princess.” Therefore, at the heart of this greeting is a wish for health. The greeting hello is first found in the Letters and Papers of Peter the Great 1688-1701.
Along with this form, a common greeting indicating the time of the meeting is:
Good morning!
Good afternoon
Good evening!
In addition to commonly used greetings, there are greetings that emphasize the joy of meeting, respectful attitude, and the desire to communicate:
- (Very) glad to see (welcome) you!
Let me (let me) welcome you.
Welcome!
My regards.
Among military personnel it is customary to greet with the words:
I wish you good health!
Retired military personnel are recognized by this greeting.
Task 172. Write how you greet your family, friends, teachers, neighbors, director. Write what greetings your loved ones, classmates, neighbors, teachers, and acquaintances greet you with.
Task 173. Write, do you think, is there a relationship between a person’s character, his upbringing, position in society, mood and the greeting formulas that he uses? Give reasons for your answer.
Task 174. Tell me, do the features of the situation or meeting influence the choice of greeting? Illustrate your answer with examples.
Task 175. Look at the greetings and tell me which of them contain additional information and which?
Hello, dear Anatoly Evgenievich!
Hello, Tolik!
Hello!
Great!
Good afternoon
Hi.
Greetings!
I'm glad to welcome you!
Let me welcome you.
Let me welcome you.
What a joy!
What a meeting!
What a meeting!
Who do I see!
Bah! Who do I see!
What a surprise!
Is that you?!
The greeting is often accompanied by a handshake, which can even replace a verbal greeting.
However, you should know: if a man and a woman meet, the man must wait until the woman extends her hand to shake, otherwise he only makes a slight bow,
The nonverbal equivalent of a greeting when those meeting are distant from each other is a bow of the head; swaying with hands clenched in the palms, slightly raised and extended forward in front of the chest; for men - a hat slightly raised above the head.
Speech etiquette of greetings also includes the nature of behavior, i.e., the order of greetings. First to greet:
Man - woman;
Younger (younger) in age - older (elder);
A younger woman - a man who is much older than her;
Junior in position - senior;
A member of a delegation is its leader (regardless of whether the delegation is foreign or foreign).
The initial formulas of communication are opposed to the formulas used at the end of communication. These are formulas for parting, stopping communication. They express:
Wish: All the best to you! Goodbye;
Hope for a new meeting: See you this evening (tomorrow, Saturday). I hope we won't be apart for long. Hope to see you soon;
Doubt about the possibility of meeting again; understanding that the separation will be long: Goodbye! It is unlikely that we will be able to meet again. You don’t remember it badly.
After the greeting, a business conversation usually ensues. Speech etiquette provides for several principles that are determined by the situation.
Three situations are most typical: 1) solemn; 2) mournful; 3) working, business.
The first includes public holidays, anniversaries of the enterprise and employees; receiving awards; opening of a gym; presentation, etc.
For any special occasion or significant event, invitations and congratulations follow. Depending on the situation (official, semi-official, informal), invitations and greeting cliches change.
Invitation:
Let me invite you...
Come to the celebration (anniversary, meeting...), we will be glad (to meet you).
I invite you (you)...
If it is necessary to express uncertainty about the appropriateness of an invitation or uncertainty about the recipient’s acceptance of the invitation, then it is expressed by an interrogative sentence:
I can (can I, can I not, can I, can I not) invite you... Congratulations:
Let me (let me) congratulate you on...
Please accept my (most) heartfelt (warm, ardent, sincere) congratulations...
On behalf of (on behalf of)... congratulations...
From (all) my heart (all my heart) congratulations...
Heartily (warmly) congratulations...
A sad situation is associated with death, death, murder, natural disaster, terrorist attacks, ruin, robbery and other events that bring misfortune and grief.
In this case, condolences are expressed. It should not be dry, official. Formulas of condolences, as a rule, are stylistically elevated and emotionally charged:
Allow me (allow me) to express (to you) my deep (sincere) condolences.
I offer (you) my (accept mine, please accept my) deep (sincere) condolences.
I sincerely (deeply, heartily, with all my heart) condolences to you.
I mourn with you.
I share (understand) your sadness (your grief, misfortune).
The most emotionally expressive expressions are:
What a (great, irreparable, terrible) grief (misfortune) has befallen you!
What a great (irreparable, terrible) loss has befallen you!
What grief (misfortune) has befallen you!
In a tragic, sorrowful or unpleasant situation, people need sympathy and consolation. Etiquette formulas of sympathy and consolation are designed for different cases and have different purposes.
Consolation expresses empathy:
- (How) I sympathize with you!
- (How) I understand you!
Consolation is accompanied by assurance of a successful outcome:
I (so) sympathize with you, but believe me (but I am so sure) that everything will end well!
Don't despair (don't lose heart). Everything will (still) change (for the better).
Everything will be OK!
All this will change (it will work out, it will pass)! Consolation is accompanied by advice:
There is no need (to) (so) worry (worry, get upset, upset, worry, suffer).
You should not lose your composure (head, restraint).
You need (must) calm down (control yourself, pull yourself together).
You have to hope for the best (get it out of your head).
The listed reasons (invitation, congratulations, condolences, consolation, expression of sympathy) do not always turn into business conversation, sometimes the conversation ends with them.
In everyday business settings (business, work situations), speech etiquette formulas are also used. For example, when summing up school year, when determining the results of participation in exhibitions, when organizing various events, meetings, the need arises to thank someone or, conversely, to reprimand or make a remark. At any job, in any organization, someone may have the need to give advice, make a proposal, make a request, express consent, allow, prohibit, or refuse someone.
Let's give speech clichés, which are used in these situations.
Expression of gratitude:
Let me (let me) express my (great, great) gratitude to Nikolai Petrovich Bystrov for the excellent (excellent) organized exhibition.
The company (directorate, administration) expresses gratitude to all employees (teaching staff) for…
I must express my gratitude to the students of grade 10a for...
Let me (let me) express my great (huge) gratitude...
For the provision of any service, for help, an important message, or a gift, it is customary to thank with the following words:
I am grateful to you for...
- (Big, huge) thank you (you) for...
- (I am) very (so) grateful to you! The emotionality and expressiveness of expressing gratitude is enhanced if you say:
There are no words to express (my) gratitude to you!
I am so grateful to you that it is difficult for me to find words!
You can't imagine how grateful I am to you!
My gratitude has no (knows) no limits!
Advice, suggestion:
Often people, especially those in power, consider it necessary to express their proposals and advice in a categorical form:
All (you) must (must)…
You should definitely do this...
Advice and suggestions expressed in this form are similar to an order or instruction and do not always give rise to a desire to follow them, especially if the conversation takes place between colleagues of the same rank. Inducement to action by advice or suggestion can be expressed in a delicate, polite or neutral form:
Let me (let me) give you advice (advise you)…
Let me offer you...
- (I) want (I would like, I would like) to advise (offer) you...
I would advise (suggest) you...
I advise (suggest) you...
Making a request should be delicate, extremely polite, but without excessive ingratiation:
Do me a favor and fulfill (my) request...
If it's not difficult for you (it won't be difficult for you)...
Don't think it's too much trouble, please take it...
- (Can) I ask you...
- (Please), (I beg you) allow me.... The request can be expressed with some categoricalness:
I urgently (convincingly, very) ask you (you)...
Consent and permission are formulated as follows:
- (Now, immediately) will be done (completed).
Please (I allow, I don’t object).
I agree to let you go.
I agree, do (do) as you see fit.
When refusing, the following expressions are used:
- (I) cannot (unable, unable) to help (allow, assist)…
- (I) cannot (unable, unable) to fulfill your request.
It is currently not possible to do this.
Understand, now is not the time to ask (make such a request),
Sorry, but we (I) cannot (can) fulfill your request.
I am forced to prohibit (refuse, not allow).
An important component of speech etiquette is a compliment. Said tactfully and at the right time, it lifts the mood of the recipient and sets him up for a positive attitude towards his opponent. A compliment is said at the beginning of a conversation, during a meeting, acquaintance, or during a conversation, when parting. A compliment is always nice. Only an insincere compliment, a compliment for the sake of a compliment, an overly enthusiastic compliment are dangerous.
The compliment relates to appearance, indicates the recipient’s excellent professional abilities, his high morality, and gives a general positive assessment:
You look good (excellent, wonderful, excellent, magnificent, young).
You are (so, very) charming (smart, quick-witted, resourceful, reasonable, practical).
You are a good (excellent, wonderful, excellent) partner (companion).
You know how to lead (manage) people well (excellently) and organize them.
Task 176. Play out the proposed role-playing situations. When discussing a completed task, pay attention to the behavior of its participants, their facial expressions, gestures, intonation, and compliance with etiquette and speech rules.
a) You are an 11th grade student. You need to make a request to the director, teacher, one of the parents, or a friend.
b) You are the chairman of the youth organization “Tourist”. A classmate of yours, an unfamiliar young man (girl), a master of sports, a representative of the Sport company, has come to you.
c) You are an administration employee. You need to ask by phone:
Veterans of the Great Patriotic War take part in the celebration;
A university scientist gives a lecture at a college;
The head of the company will help improve the sports ground.
Any act of communication has a beginning, a main part and a final part. If the addressee is unfamiliar to the subject of speech, then communication begins with acquaintance. Moreover, it can occur directly or indirectly. According to the rules of good manners, it is not customary to enter into a conversation with a stranger and introduce yourself. However, there are times when this needs to be done. Etiquette prescribes the following formulas:
- Let me get to know you (you).
-I would like to meet you (you).
- Let me (those) get acquainted with you.
- Let me introduce you.
- Let's get acquainted.
- Let's get acquainted.
- It would be nice to meet you.
When visiting an institution, office, office, when you have a conversation with an official and you need to introduce yourself to him, the following formulas are used:
- Allow me to introduce myself.
– My last name is Kolesnikov.
- I'm Pavlov.
– My name is Yuri Vladimirovich.
- Nikolai Kolesnikov.
- Anastasia Igorevna.
If the visitor does not identify himself, then the official himself asks:
– What is your (your) last name?
– What is your (your) name, patronymic?
– What is your (your) name?
– What is your (your) name?
In many countries, business cards have long been used when meeting people. This began to be practiced here too. A business card will be presented during the presentation. The person being introduced must take it and read it out loud, and then during the conversation, if it takes place in an office, keep the business card on the table in front of him in order to correctly name the interlocutor.
The intermediary, when determining the order of presentation and choosing an etiquette formula, takes into account the official position, age, gender of those whom he represents, as well as whether they were previously acquainted or only one of them knows the other, has heard of him before.
Performance can be bilateral or unilateral. The latter happens most often when those gathered for a meeting, meeting, some kind of celebration, briefing, or meeting are introduced to the organizers of these meetings or those participants who are unfamiliar to all or part of those gathered. Representation formulas:
-Meet me (please). Inna Sergeevna Novikova.
Anatoly Evgenievich Sorokin.
-I want (would like) to introduce you to...
-I want (would like) to introduce you...
-Allow me (let me) introduce you to...
Sometimes after the introduction, especially in an informal setting, the acquaintances exchange remarks:
-Very nice (glad)!
-(I’m) glad (happy) to meet you.
– (I’m) very pleased to meet you!
Etiquette also determines the norm of behavior. It is customary to introduce a man to a woman, a younger person to an older one, and an employee to the boss.
Official and unofficial meetings acquaintances, and sometimes strangers, begin with greetings .
In Russian the main greeting is Hello. It goes back to the Old Slavonic verb hello, which means “to be sound”, i.e. healthy. Verb hello in ancient times it also meant “to greet” (cf.: greet), as evidenced by the text of the “Onega epic”: “How Ilya comes here Muromets, and live he is a prince and princess.” Therefore, at the heart of this greeting is a wish for health. First time greeting hello found in “Letters and papers of Peter the Great 1688-1701”.
Along with this form, a common greeting indicating the time of the meeting is:
- Good morning! Good afternoon Good evening!
In addition to commonly used greetings, there are greetings that emphasize the joy of meeting, respectful attitude, and the desire to communicate:
- (Very) glad to see (welcome) you!
- Let me (let me) greet you.
- Welcome!
- My regards.
- I wish you good health!
Retired military personnel are recognized by this greeting.
The greeting is often accompanied by a handshake, which can even replace a verbal greeting.
However, you should know: if a man and a woman meet, the man must wait until the woman extends her hand to shake, otherwise he only makes a slight bow.
The nonverbal equivalent of a greeting when those meeting are distant from each other is a bow of the head; swaying with hands clenched in the palms, slightly raised and extended forward in front of the chest; for men - a hat slightly raised above the head.
Speech etiquette of greetings also includes the nature of behavior, i.e. order of greetings. First to greet
– man – woman;
– younger (younger) in age – older (elder);
– a younger woman – a man who
much older than her;
– junior in position – senior;
– member of the delegation – its leader (independently – one’s own
delegation or foreign).
The initial formulas of communication are opposed to the formulas used at the end of communication. These are formulas for parting, stopping communication. They express
– wish: All the best to you! Goodbye!
- hope for a new meeting: See you this evening (tomorrow, Saturday). I hope we won't be apart for long. I hope to see you soon;
– doubt about the possibility of meeting again; the separation will be long: Farewell! It is unlikely that we will be able to meet again. Don't remember it badly.
After the greeting, a business conversation usually ensues. Speech etiquette provides for several principles that are determined by the situation. Three situations are most typical: 1) solemn; 2) mournful; 3) working, business.
The first includes public holidays, anniversaries of the enterprise and employees; receiving awards; opening an office, store; presentation; conclusion of an agreement, contract, etc.
For any special occasion or significant event, invitations and congratulations follow. Depending on the situation (official, semi-official, informal), invitations and greeting cliches change.
Invitation:
- Allow me to invite you...
- Come to the holiday (anniversary, meeting...), we will be glad (to meet you).
- I invite you (you)...
If it is necessary to express uncertainty about the appropriateness of the invitation or uncertainty about the acceptance of the invitation by the addressee, then it is expressed by an interrogative sentence:
- I can (can I, can I not, can I, can I not) invite you...
Congratulation:
- Let me (let me) congratulate you on...
– Please accept my (most) heartfelt (warmth 0., warm, sincere) congratulations...
– On behalf of (on behalf of) ... congratulations ...
– From (all) my heart (all my heart) congratulations...
– Heartily (warmly) congratulations...
A sad situation is associated with death, death, murder, natural disaster, terrorist attacks, ruin, robbery and other events that bring misfortune and grief.
In this case it is expressed condolences . It should not be dry, official. Formulas of “condolences” are, as a rule, stylistically elevated and emotionally charged:
- Allow me (allow me) to express (to you) my deep (sincere) condolences.
– I bring (to you) my (accept mine, please accept my) deep (sincere) condolences.
– I sincerely (deeply, heartily, with all my heart) condolences to you.
- I grieve with you.
– I share (understand) your sadness (your grief, misfortune).
The most emotionally expressive expressions are:
- What a (great, irreparable, terrible) grief (misfortune) has befallen you!
– What a great (irreparable, terrible) loss befell you!
- What grief (misfortune) befell you.
In a tragic, sorrowful or unpleasant situation, people need sympathy and consolation. Etiquette formulas of sympathy and consolation are designed for different occasions and have different purposes.
Consolation expresses empathy:
- (How) I sympathize with you!
- (How) I understand you!
Consolation is accompanied by assurance of a successful outcome:
-I (so) sympathize with you, but believe me (but I’m so sure) that everything will end well!
– Don’t fall into despair (don’t lose heart). Everything will (still) change (for the better).
- Everything will be OK!
-All this will change (it will work out, it will pass)! Consolation is accompanied by advice:
– You don’t (need) (so) worry (worry, get upset, upset, worry, suffer).
– You must not lose your composure (head, restraint) -
– You need (need) to calm down (control yourself, pull yourself together).
– You have to hope for the best (get it out of your head).
The listed beginnings (invitation, congratulations, condolences, consolation, expression of sympathy) do not always turn into business communication - sometimes the conversation ends with them.
In everyday business settings (business, work situations), speech etiquette formulas are also used. For example, when summing up the work; when determining the results of selling goods or participating in exhibitions, when organizing various events, meetings, it becomes necessary to thank someone or, conversely, to reprimand or make a remark. At any job, in any organization, someone may have the need to give advice, make a proposal, make a request, express consent, allow, prohibit, or refuse someone.
Here are the speech cliches that are used in these situations.
Expression of gratitude :
– Let me (allow me) to express (big, huge);
gratitude to Nikolai Petrovich Bystrov for the excellent (excellent) organized exhibition.
– The company (directorate, administration) expresses gratitude to all employees (teaching staff) for...
– I must express my gratitude to the head of the supply department for...
– Allow me (allow me) to express great (huge): gratitude...;
For the provision of any service, for help, an important message, or a gift, it is customary to thank with the following words:
- I am grateful to you for...
- (Big, huge) thank you (you) for...
– (I’m) very (so) grateful to you!
The emotionality and expressiveness of expressing gratitude is enhanced if you say:
– There are no words to express (my) gratitude to you!
– I am so grateful to you that it is difficult for me to find words!
“You can’t imagine how grateful I am to you.”
– My gratitude has no (knows) boundaries!
Note, warning:
– The company (directorate, board, editorial office) is forced to send a (serious) warning (remark)...
– To (great) regret (chagrin), I must (force) to make a remark (to reprimand)...
Often people, especially those in power, consider it necessary to express their suggestions, advice in categorical form:
- Everyone (you) is obliged (must)...
- You should definitely do this...
Advice and suggestions expressed in this form are similar to orders or instructions and do not always give rise to a desire to follow them, especially if the conversation takes place between colleagues of the same rank. Inducement to action by advice or suggestion can be expressed in a delicate, polite or neutral form:
- Let me (let me) give you advice (advise you)...
- Let me offer you...
- (I) want (I would like, I would like) to advise (offer) you...
- I would advise (suggest) you...
- I advise (suggest) you...
Handling request should be delicate, extremely polite, but without excessive ingratiation:
- Do me a favor, fulfill (my) request...
– If it’s not difficult for you (it won’t be difficult for you)...
- Don’t think it’s too much trouble, please take it...
- (Can) I ask you...
- (Please), (I beg you) allow me...
The request can be expressed with some categoricalness:
– I urgently (convincingly, very) ask you (you)...
Consent, permission is formulated as follows:
- (Now, immediately) will be done (completed).
– Please (I allow, I don’t object).
- I agree to let you go.
- I agree, do (do) as you think.
In case of failure
expressions used:
– (I) cannot (unable, unable) to help (allow, assist).
- (I) cannot (unable, unable) to fulfill your request.
– At present, this (to do) is impossible.
- Understand, now is not the time to ask With such a request).
- Sorry, but we (I) cannot (can) fulfill your request.
– I am forced to prohibit (refuse, not allow).
Among business people of any rank it is customary to resolve issues that are especially important to them in a semi-official setting. For this purpose, hunting, fishing, outings are organized, followed by an invitation to a dacha, a restaurant, a sauna. Speech etiquette also changes in accordance with the situation; it becomes less formal and acquires a relaxed, emotionally expressive character. But even in such an environment, subordination is observed, a familiar tone of expression, or speech “looseness” is not allowed.
An important component of speech etiquette is compliment. Said tactfully and at the right time, it lifts the mood of the recipient and sets him up for a positive attitude towards his opponent. A compliment is said at the beginning of a conversation, during a meeting, acquaintance, or during a conversation, when parting. A compliment is always nice. Only an insincere compliment, a compliment for the sake of a compliment, an overly enthusiastic compliment are dangerous.
The compliment refers to appearance, testifies to the excellent professional abilities of the addressee, his high morality, gives an overall positive assessment:
– You look good (excellent, wonderful, excellent, magnificent, young).
– You don’t change (you haven’t changed, you don’t grow old).
– You are (so, very) charming (smart, quick-witted, resourceful, reasonable, practical).
– You are a good (excellent, excellent, excellent) specialist (economist, manager, entrepreneur, partner).
– You run (your) business (business, trade, construction) well (excellent, excellent, excellent).
– You know how to lead (manage) people well (excellently), organize them.
– It’s a pleasure (good, excellent) to do business (work, cooperate) with you.
Communication presupposes the presence of one more term, one more component, which manifests itself throughout the entire communication, is its integral part, and serves as a bridge from one replica to another. And at the same time, the norm of use and the form of the term itself have not been finally established, cause disagreement, and are a sore point of Russian speech etiquette.
This is eloquently stated in a letter published in “ Komsomolskaya Pravda"(24.01.91) for signed by Andrey. They posted a letter entitled “Extra People.” Let's give it without abbreviations:
We are probably the only country in the world where people do not address each other. We don't know how to contact a person! Man, woman, girl, granny, comrade, citizen - ugh! Or maybe a female person, a male person! And it’s easier – hey! We are nobody! Neither for the state, nor for each other!
The author of the letter, in an emotional form, quite sharply, using language data, raises the question of the position of man in our state. Thus, the syntactic unit - address - becomes a socially significant category.
To understand this, it is necessary to understand what is unique about address in the Russian language and what its history is.
From time immemorial, circulation has performed several functions. The main one is to attract the attention of the interlocutor. This is a vocative function.
Since they are used as proper names as addresses (Anna Sergeevna, Igor, Sasha), and names of people according to degree of relationship (father, uncle, grandfather), by position in society, by profession, position (president, general, minister, director, accountant), by age and gender (old man, boy, girl), in addition to the vocative function, the address indicates the corresponding feature.
Finally, appeals can be expressive and emotionally charged and contain an assessment: Lyubochka, Lyubka, a blockhead, a dunce, a klutz, a rogue, a smart girl, a beauty. The peculiarity of such addresses is that they characterize both the addressee and the addressee himself, the degree of his education, attitude towards the interlocutor, and emotional state.
The following words of address are used in an informal situation, only some of them, for example, proper names(in their basic form), the names of professions and positions serve as addresses in official speech.
Distinctive feature officially accepted appeals in Rus' were a reflection of the social stratification of society, such characteristic feature, as veneration.
Isn’t that why the root in Russian is rank proved to be prolific, giving life
- in words: official, bureaucracy, dean, deanery, love of rank, veneration, bureaucrat, rank-order, disorderly, disorderly, rank-destroyer, rank-destroyer, rank-worshipper, rank-stealer, decorously, decency, under
to repair, submission;
– phrases: not according to rank, distribute according to ranks, rank, large rank, without sorting ranks, without rank, rank by rank;
- proverbs: Honor the rank of the rank, and then sit on the edge; The bullet does not distinguish the officials; For a fool of great rank, there is space everywhere; There are two whole ranks: a fool and a fool; And he would be in charge, but it’s a pity, his pockets are empty.
Also indicative are the formulas of dedications, addresses and signatures of the author himself, which were cultivated in the 18th century. For example, the work of M.V. Lomonosov's “Russian Grammar” (1755) begins with the dedication:
To the Most Serene Sovereign, Grand Duke Pavel Petrovich, Duke of Holstein-Iszewig, Storman and Ditmar, Count of Oldenburg and Dolmangor, and so on, to the Most Gracious Sovereign...
Then comes the appeal:
Most Serene Sovereign, Grand Duke, most gracious sir!
And signature:
your his Imperial Majesty the most humble slave Mikhailo Lomonosov.
Social stratification society, the inequality that existed in Russia for several centuries was reflected in the system of official appeals.
Firstly, there was a document “Table of Ranks”, published in 1717-1721, which was then republished in a slightly modified form. It listed military (army and naval), civil and court ranks. Each category of ranks was divided into 14 classes. So, they belonged to the 3rd class lieutenant general, lieutenant general; Vice Admiral; Privy Councillor; marshal, master of horse, jägermeister, chamberlain, chief master of ceremonies; to 6th grade - colonel; captain 1st rank; collegiate advisor; camera fourier; to 12th grade - cornet, cornet; midshipman; provincial secretary.
In addition to the named ranks, which determined the system of appeals, there were appeals Your Excellency, Your Excellency, Your Excellency, Your Highness, Your Majesty, Most Gracious (Merciful) Sovereign; sovereign and etc.
Secondly, the monarchical system in Russia until the 20th century maintained the division of people into classes; a class-organized society was characterized by a hierarchy of rights and responsibilities, class inequality and privileges. Classes were distinguished: nobles, clergy, commoners, merchants, townspeople, peasants. Hence the appeals sir, madam towards people of privilege social groups; sir, madam- for the middle class or master, lady for both, and the lack of a unified appeal to representatives of the lower class.”? You should be ashamed!” (Com. pr. 11/18/77).
In the languages of other civilized countries, unlike Russian, there were addresses that were used both in relation to a person occupying a high position in society and to an ordinary citizen : Mr., Mrs., Miss(England, USA), senor, senora, senorita(Spain), signor, signora, signorina(Italy), sir, lady(Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia).
After October revolution All old ranks and titles are abolished by a special decree. Universal equality is proclaimed. Appeals sir– madam, master - lady, sir - madam, dear sir (empress) gradually disappear. Only diplomatic language preserves the formulas of international politeness. Thus, the heads of monarchical states are addressed: Your Majesty, Your Excellency; foreign diplomats continue to be called Mr. - Mrs.
Instead of all the appeals that existed in Russia, starting from 1917-1918, the appeals are becoming widespread citizen And comrade. The history of these words is remarkable and instructive.
Word citizen recorded in monuments of the 11th century. It came into the Old Russian language from the Old Church Slavonic language and served as a phonetic version of the word city dweller Both meant “resident of the city (city).” In this meaning citizen also found in texts related to 19th century. In the 18th century, this word acquired the meaning of “a full member of society, the state.”
Can a state where two-thirds of the citizens are deprived of civil rank and part of the law are dead, be called blessed?
Word citizen with new content became widespread in the 19th century, as evidenced by the work of outstanding poets and writers:
You may not be a poet, but you must be a citizen!
Be a citizen! Serving art, live for the good of your neighbor (I.A. Nekrasov)
In the 20-30s. a custom appeared, and then it became the norm when arresting, prisoners, and those on trial contact law enforcement officials and vice versa, not to speak comrade, only citizen: citizen under investigation, citizen judge, citizen prosecutor.
As a result the word citizen for many it has become associated with detention, arrest, police, prosecutor’s office
The negative association gradually became so “grown” to the word that it became an integral part of it, so ingrained in people’s minds that it became impossible to use the word citizen as a common address.
The fate of the word turned out somewhat differently comrade. It is recorded in monuments of the 15th century. Known in Slovenian, Czech, Slovak, Polish, Upper Sorbian and Lower Sorbian. IN Slavic languages this word comes from Turkic, in which the root tavar meant “property, livestock, goods.” Probably originally comrade meant “companion in trade.” The meaning of this word is then expanded: comrade– not only a “companion”, but also a “friend”. Proverbs testify to this: On the road, the son is a comrade to his father, a smart comrade– half the road; Leave your friend behind– to become without a friend; The poor are no friend to the rich; A servant is not a master's comrade.
With the growth of the revolutionary movement in Russia in early XIX century word comrade, as in its time the word citizen, acquires a new socio-political meaning: “a like-minded person fighting for the interests of the people.”
In the speech of the clergy, officers of the tsarist army, and various intelligentsia, they continue to use the following appeals: Your Excellency, Your Excellency, Your Honor, gentlemen, officers, Mr. Lieutenant, gentlemen.
In subsequent years of Soviet power the word comrade was especially popular.
It seemed that conversion was a matter of upbringing, taste, and culture. However, in a socialist society, by the way a person is addressed, one can judge his political orientation, ideology, and class affiliation. The appeal immediately determined the status of a citizen: if comrade, that is, ours, ideologically proven, class-pure. Mister- pay attention here, this can be suspected of everything: counter-revolutionism, exploitative inclinations, anti-communism. Citizen– there is an obvious criminal implication here. There was a comrade, but he became a citizen under investigation.
After Patriotic War word comrade gradually begins to emerge from the everyday unofficial communication of people to each other.
A problem arises: how to contact a stranger? The issue is beginning to be discussed in the press and in radio broadcasts. Philologists, writers express their opinions, public figures. They propose to revive appeals sir, madam.
The result of the observations was as follows: young woman– 25 people, grandma, grandma(from 20 to 25 years) – 7, darling - 3, woman– 10, mother(from 30 to 35 years) – 6, little sister– 1, aunt, aunty(teenagers) – 7, dear(elderly person) – 1, saleswoman - 3.
On the street, in the store, in public transport, the message is increasingly heard man, woman, grandfather, father, granny, boyfriend, auntie, uncle.
Such appeals are not neutral. They can be perceived by the addressee as disrespect for him, even an insult, unacceptable familiarity. Hence, rudeness in response, expression of resentment, and quarrel are possible.
Since the late 80s. appeals began to be revived in official settings sir, madam, sir, madam.
History repeats itself. Like in the 20-30s. appeals sir And comrades had a social connotation, and in the 90s. they confronted each other again.
IN Lately appeal sir, madam is perceived as the norm at Duma meetings, in television programs, at various symposia and conferences. In parallel with this, at meetings between government officials, politicians and the people, as well as at rallies, speakers began to use appeals Russians, fellow citizens, compatriots. Among government officials, businessmen, entrepreneurs, and university professors, the norm is becoming sir, madam in combination with the surname, position title, title. Difficulties arise if the director or professor is a woman. In this case, how to contact: Mr. Professor or Madam Professor!
Appeal comrade continue to be used by the military, members of communist parties, as well as in many factory teams. Scientists, teachers, doctors, lawyers prefer words colleagues, friends. Appeal respected, respected found in the speech of the older generation. Words female Male, which have become widespread recently in the role of address, violate the norm of speech etiquette and indicate the speaker’s lack of culture. In this case, it is preferable to start a conversation without references, using etiquette formulas: please..., please..., excuse me..., excuse me......
Thus, the problem of commonly used address in an informal setting remains open. It will be solved only when every citizen of Russia learns to respect himself and treat others with respect, when he learns to defend his honor and dignity, when he becomes an individual, when it doesn’t matter what position he holds, what his status is. It is important that he is a citizen of the Russian Federation. Only then will none of the Russians feel awkward and embarrassed if they call him or he calls someone sir, madam.