Officialese
Канцылярыт is officialese: ажыццяўляць кантроль (to exercise control) instead of кантраляваць (to check, to control).
How It Works
Канцылярыт is a critical name for bureaucratic style; a single bureaucratic word or phrase is a канцылярызм. You will meet it in forms, notices, laws and many news reports. It is expected in real official documents, but it makes everyday writing hard to read.
Signs of the style:
- A noun instead of a verb. ажыццяўляць кантроль (exercise control) for кантраляваць; праводзіць рамонт (carry out repairs) for рамантаваць.
- Chains of genitives. з мэтай паляпшэння якасці абслугоўвання (with the aim of improving the quality of service). See chains of verbal nouns.
- З'яўляцца for is. Ён з'яўляецца дырэктарам (He is the director) where plain style says Ён дырэктар. Like быць and стаць, з'яўляцца takes the instrumental.
- Passives with the doer in the instrumental. Намі ажыццяўляецца кантроль for Мы кантралюем. See the instrumental of the doer.
- Stock words. дадзены (this, the given), у сувязі з, з мэтай, у адпаведнасці з.
How to make it plain. Find the action hidden in a noun and make it a verb. Say who does it. Replace з'яўляецца with nothing or a dash: Ён дырэктар школы. Мы робім рамонт, каб лепш абслугоўваць кліентаў.
Much of this style follows Russian official phrasing word for word, which is one more reason good Belarusian editors prefer plain verbs. Compare Russianisms.
Examples (5)
- Намі ажыццяўляецца кантроль за якасцю.
We monitor quality.
Word by Word: By-us is-carried-out control over quality.
Officialese. In plain style: Мы кантралюем якасць.
- Мы кантралюем якасць.
We monitor quality.
Word by Word: We control quality.
The plain version of the sentence above: one verb, and the doer is the subject.
- Ён з'яўляецца дырэктарам школы.
He is the head of the school.
Word by Word: He appears director of-school.
Officialese. In plain style: Ён дырэктар школы.
- У мэтах паляпшэння абслугоўвання кліентаў праводзіцца рамонт.
Renovation is under way to improve customer service.
Word by Word: In aims of-improvement of-service of-clients is-carried-out repair.
Officialese. In plain style: Мы робім рамонт, каб лепш абслугоўваць кліентаў.
- Дадзенае пытанне будзе разгледжана на пасяджэнні.
This question will be discussed at the meeting.
Word by Word: Given question will-be considered at meeting.
Officialese. In plain style: Гэтае пытанне мы разгледзім на пасяджэнні.
Common Mistakes
Using the nominative after з'яўляцца.
Ён з'яўляецца дырэктар школы.Ён з'яўляецца дырэктарам школы.З'яўляцца in the sense of to be takes the instrumental: дырэктарам. In plain style you can drop it: Ён дырэктар школы.
Breaking the genitive chain with a nominative.
з мэтай паляпшэння якасцьз мэтай паляпшэння якасціEach noun in the chain depends on the one before it and stands in the genitive: паляпшэння якасці.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Officialese needs verbal-noun chains and з'яўляцца.
Related Patterns
- працаваць / быць / стаць + InstrumentalInstrumental for Roles and Jobs
З'яўляцца takes the same instrumental as быць and стаць.
Level 2 - The Agent in the Instrumental
Official passives name the doer in the instrumental: намі, урадам.
Level 4 - з мэтай + GenitiveFormal Purpose with З Мэтай
З мэтай + genitive is a stock phrase of official style.
Level 5 - у сувязі з + InstrumentalIn Connection with
Another stock phrase of official notices.
Level 5 - Common Russianisms to Avoid
Much officialese copies Russian phrasing, like other Russianisms.
Level 2
Words in This Pattern
Practice Officialese in Bubblegum
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