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in a number of ways. These two varieties are: Common Czech (obecná čeština) and
Literary Czech (spisovná čeština). Literary Czech also has its own spoken variant
Colloquial Czech (hovorová čeština) which is considered being literary (Čermák
27).
3.1.1
Relationship of Common and Literary Czech
Common Czech is a self-contained variety and quite different from
Literary Czech, yet the difference is not always clear and there is an area of overlap
between them. Moreover, it is not possible to define the difference between Common
and Literary Czech as the difference between the written and spoken language. In
addition, it is not clear enough what exactly the term Colloquial Czech means,
because this so-called variety has no particular formal means of expression (Čermák
27 - 28).
According to Jiří Kraus, there are two current tendencies in judging
Common and Literary Czech. The first of them is interested in language variations
and minority languages in accordance with post-modernism epoch. Thus this
tendency is characterized by growing interest in Common Czech and claims that
Common Czech should not only be used as a source which is enriching Literary
Czech, but that it should replace Literary Czech in certain formal and official
situations. Contrary to this tendency, there is an opposite attitude which is
characterized by efforts to improve public and formal communication by supporting
Literary Czech. This tendency supports a standard and high form of Literary Czech
(Kraus 42). Both of these tendencies have their pros and cons which are a matter for
longer discussion. However, the important thing is to accept and respect both of them
and to inform public that none of the varieties is better or worse.
"These attempts at restricting and simplifying the dynamic tendencies in the literary
norm sometimes reflect a commonly shared opinion that of two or more language
variants only one can be good (or at least better) and the other must be wrong (or
worse). It remains an important task of language culture institutions and of schools
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to teach the public that such clear-cut boundaries occur in languages very rarely and
that the answers to questions of what is correct and appropriate in speech depend on
many and very complex factors of communication."
(Kraus 43-44)
It is obvious from the preceding paragraphs that relationship between
Literary and Common Czech is quite complicated. In part, the distinction between
them is connected with the distinction between spoken and written language. As
František Čermák reminds, educated speakers are often shocked by transcripts of
what they have said in formal circumstances because of a high number of Common
Czech forms and they claim that they would never write in this way: "In explanation,
they insist that thery were not aware that the difference between written and spoken
forms was so great" (29). The spoken form influences the written one a lot and the
mistakes which are caused by this influence have been considered misspellings
(Čermák 29).
The Literary Czech is primarily used in written language but because
of its prestige it also occurs in speech as well, yet rather in fragments which are
isolated. On the other hand, contemporary Common Czech is less restricted;
therefore, it often finds way into written communication (Čermák 29)
Considering function, both codes have their own set of functions. In
general, the literary language is almost never used as the spoken variant. However, it
is important to distinguish what is considered being spoken language. At first, the
spoken mode of language contrasts with that of written language. Secondly, the
spoken language is associated with informal or intimate communication, while the
written (or literary) language is formal and distancing. In light of the second rule,
Common Czech should be examine more closely, because the terms spoken language
and Common Czech are not always identical and at the same time there is no sharp
line between them. Rather, there is a neutral variant which combines elements from
both and differs from Colloquial Czech. The neutral variant is found in the areas
where no variation in form is possible. As a result, the terms Spoken and Common
Czech are used interchangeably. However, one should remember that it is not
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possible to simply identify Spoken Czech with anything that is not literary (Čermák
30).
3.1.2
Characteristics of Spoken Czech
Spoken Czech has its own structure and function. Its original centre
was Prague, but it has not a regional status now. Furthermore, it is a relatively
independent code which consists of a neutral core and peripheral variants. There are
two different levels of means in its structure; the first one is the represented by its
specific means and devices and the other one by means which are shared by Spoken
and Literary Czech. The second level includes non-inflectional words (adverbs,
prepositions, conjuctions etc.) and inflectional words which are restricted as neutral
or unmarked, for instance, nominatives or infinitives (Čermák 36).
As for usage and distribution of Spoken Czech, it is believed that it is
used in discussion and narration in the two following manners:
Regularly: if the communication is informal and private; if the
socio-cultural context is not of a formal nature (no formal rules
restricting spoken contacts) and if the social status of the
speakers is equal or if the user is socially higher (a parent
talking to a child)
Often: the talk is spontaneous, emotive or familiar, or if the
participants are very familiar with each other
According to what is written above, Spoken Czech is never used in formal
interactions and in public official addresses, e.g. in those cases which can be
described by opposite features. On the other hand, there are very unusual and very
few cases of spoken discourse in which Literary and Written Czech are used. In
conclusion, Spoken Czech is more viable than Literary Czech and it seems to gain
advantage over dialects too (Čermák 36).
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