Slovene Ultra-Formal Address: Borrowing, Innovation, and Analysis

Abstract

Slovenščina ima ogovorni sistem, ki se od osnovnega dvojnega ogovornega sistema mnogih evropskih jezikov loči v tem, da oblikovno razlikuje do štirih ravni formalnosti (neformalno/tikanje, polformalno/napol vikanje, formalno/vikanje in ultraformalno/onikanje). Do nedavnega je bilo onikanje v redni uporabi tako v neposrednem kot v posrednem ogovoru (oz. govorjenjem o odsotni osebi). Čeprav bi lahko slovnične značilnosti onikanja izvirale iz stika z nemščino, se zdi, da predstavlja slovenska uporaba onikanja v posrednem ogovoru samostojen izum. Avtor analizira Linhartovo veseloigro Županova Micka z namenom, da razišče in prikaže vzajemno delovanje teh ogovornih oblik. Podobne raziskave onikanja v drugih jezikih (češčina, slovaščina) bi lahko bolje osvetlile pojav, ki je prisoten v več slovanskih jezikih.

Slovene has a system of address that differs from the basic binary address system of many European languages by grammatically distinguishing up to four levels of formality (informal, semiformal, formal, and ultra-formal). Until recently, ultra-formal address was regularly used in direct as well as indirect address (i.e., reference to absent persons). Although the grammatical characteristics of Slovene ultra-formal address (3rd plural) appear to have been the result of contact with German, the Slovene application of this form to indirect address appears to have been an independent innovation. Anton Tomaž Linhart’s play Županova Micka is analyzed in order to explore and illustrate the interaction of these various address forms. Similar studies of ultra-formal address in other languages (e.g., Czech and Slovak) could shed light on a phenomenon that has been attested in multiple Slavic languages.