An example of addressing the queen in Rus'. Dear Sir - an official and polite address to a man
Author Incognito mask asked a question in the section Society, Politics, Media
What addresses correspond to representatives of various noble titles? and got the best answer
Answer from A-stra[guru]
I’ll add Olga Oussova’s answer.
Addresses among the nobility had to strictly correspond to the rank, title and origin of the person being addressed. These appeals strictly correlated with the “Table of Ranks” (it was in effect almost unchanged until 1917).
Titled persons (Grand Duke, Prince, Count, Duke, Baron) were addressed according to the title: Your Highness, Your Excellency, Your Serene Highness. Military etiquette. The system of appeals corresponded to the system of military ranks. Full generals are supposed to say Your Excellency, lieutenant generals and major generals - Your Excellency. Officers, sub-ensigns and candidates for a class position are called superiors and senior staff and chief officers by rank, adding the word Mr., for example, Mr. Captain, Mr. Colonel, other lower ranks title staff officers and captains - Your Highness, other chief officers - Your Honor (those with a count or princely title - Your Excellency)." Departmental etiquette used largely the same system of address as military etiquette. Forms of title in Tsarist Russia When addressing persons who had certain ranks "Table of Ranks" , persons of equal rank or inferior were required to use the following titles (depending on the class): “YOUR EXCELLENCY” - to persons in the ranks of the 1st and 2nd classes; “YOUR EXCELLENCY” - to persons in the ranks of the 3rd and 4th classes; “YOUR EXTREMELY " - to persons in the ranks of class 5; "YOUR HIGH NOBILITY" - to persons in the ranks of classes 6 - 8; "YOUR NOBILITY" - to persons in the ranks of classes 9 - 14. In addition, in Russia there were titles used when addressing members Imperial House of Romanov and persons of noble origin: “YOUR IMPERIAL MAJESTY” - to the Emperor, Empress and Empress Dowager; “YOUR IMPERIAL HIGHNESS” - to the great princes (the children and grandchildren of the emperor, and in 1797-1886, the great-grandsons and great-great-grandchildren of the emperor); "YOUR HIGHness" - to the princes of the imperial blood; “YOUR LORDSHIP” - to the younger children of the great-grandsons of the emperor and their male descendants, as well as to the most serene princes by grant; “YOUR LORD” - to princes, counts, dukes and barons; “YOUR NOBILITY” - to all other nobles. When addressing clergy in Russia, the following titles were used: “YOUR EMPLOYMENT” - to metropolitans and archbishops; “YOUR Eminence” - to the bishops; “YOUR REVERENCE” - to archimandrites and abbots of monasteries, archpriests and priests; “YOUR REVERENCE” - to archdeacons and deacons.
In the old days, the word sovereign in Russia was used indifferently, instead of mister, master, landowner, nobleman.
In the 19th century
The All-Merciful Sovereign addressed the king,
to the great princes - Most Gracious Sovereign,
to all private individuals - dear sir (when addressing the highest),
my dear sir (to an equal),
my lord (to the lowest).
The words sudar (also with emphasis on the second syllable), sudarik (friendly) were used mainly in oral speech.
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Answer from 2 answers[guru]
Hello! Here is a selection of topics with answers to your question: What addresses correspond to representatives of various noble titles?
asked in
Which country is rich in LORDS and PEERS? What is the difference between them?
Great Britain
The Viscount wears a crown with unlimited pearls; count -
a pearl crown, the teeth of which are interspersed with small strawberry
leaves; the marquise has teeth and leaves at the same level; the Duke has one
prongs, no pearls; a duke of royal blood has a hoop composed of
crosses and lilies; The Prince of Wales has the same crown as the King, but
open
The Duke is called "the most serene and most powerful sovereign"; marquis and
count - "high-ranking and powerful ruler", viscount - "noble and
powerful lord"; baron - "true lord".
Addressing the Duke: "Your Grace", to other peers - "Your
mercy."
The lord's personality is inviolable.
Peers are parliament and court, concilium et curia, legislation and
justice.
Most honorable means more than right honorable
(Hon.)
Lords peers are recognized as lords by birthright, lords who are not peers are
by lords out of courtesy; only peers are true lords.
A lord never takes an oath, either to the king or in court. Enough
one word from him. He says: “I assure you on my honor.”
Members of the House of Commons representing the people, being summoned to the House
lords, humbly bare their heads before the lords sitting in the head
attire.
The House of Commons presents a bill to the House of Lords through a deputation from
forty members, who make three deep bows when presenting the bill.
Lords transmit their bills to the House of Commons through a simple scribe.
In case of disagreement between the chambers, they deliberate together in
"painted hall", with peers sitting in hats, and members of the House of Commons standing with
uncovered throat.
By law passed by Edward VI, the lords enjoy the privilege
unintentional murder. A lord who kills a commoner is not subject to
persecution.
Barons are equal in rank to bishops.
To be a baron peer, you must receive a grant from the king per
baroniam integram, that is, a complete baronial estate.
A full baronial estate consists of thirteen and a quarter nobles
lenov, each valued at twenty pounds sterling, which is
four hundred marks.
Baronial castle - this “head” of the baronial estate - caput baroniae -
inherited on the same basis as the crown of England, that is
passes to daughters only in the absence of male children and in such
case goes to the eldest daughter; caeteris filiabus aliunde satisfactis
[this means: the remaining daughters are provided for as much as possible
(Ursus's note nearby, on the wall)] .
Barons bear the title of lord, from the Saxon laford (classical Latin
- dominus and Vulgar Latin - lordus).
The eldest and subsequent sons of viscounts and barons are the first
esquires of the kingdom.
The eldest sons of peers have precedence over knights of the order
Garters; younger sons have no advantage.
The viscount's eldest son follows the barons in the procession and leads the way
baronets.
A lord's daughter is a lady, other English girls are misses.
All judges are recognized below the peers. The sergeant wears a hide hood
lamb; judges - hood de minuto vario - from any small white skins
animals, except ermine. Ermine is worn only by peers and the king.
Supplicavit [supplication (Latin)] is not allowed against a lord; that's what it was called
complaint addressed to the king].
The Lord cannot be put in a regular prison. It can only be contained in
Tower of London.
A lord invited to visit the king has the right to kill in the royal
park one or two fallow deer.
The lord in his dominions is granted the right of baronial court.
Go out into the street in a robe, taking with you only two to accompany you
servants - unworthy of a lord. He can only appear with a whole retinue
close nobles.
Peers go to Parliament in coaches in a train; members of the House of Commons
have no rights. Some peers go to Westminster in open
two
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asked in
Your Excellency - this is an appeal to whom?
Forms of title in Tsarist Russia
When addressing persons who had certain ranks of the “Table of Ranks,” persons of equal or lower rank were required to use the following titles (depending on the class):
“YOUR EXCELLENCY” - to persons in the ranks of 1st and 2nd classes;
“YOUR EXCELLENCY” - to persons in the ranks of 3 and 4 classes;
“YOUR HIGHNESS” - to persons in the ranks of 5th class;
“YOUR HONOR” - to persons in the ranks of grades 6–8;
“YOUR NOBILITY” - to persons in the ranks of grades 9–14.
In addition, in Russia there were titles used when addressing members of the Imperial House of Romanov and persons of noble origin:
"YOUR IMPERIAL MAJESTY" - to the Emperor, Empress and Empress Dowager;
“YOUR IMPERIAL HIGHNESS” - to the grand dukes (the children and grandchildren of the emperor, and in 1797–1886, the great-grandsons and great-great-grandchildren of the emperor);
"YOUR HIGHness" - to the princes of the imperial blood;
“YOUR LORDSHIP” - to the younger children of the great-grandsons of the emperor and their male descendants, as well as to the most serene princes by grant;
“YOUR LORD” - to princes, counts, dukes and barons;
“YOUR NOBILITY” - to all other nobles.
When addressing clergy in Russia, the following titles were used:
“YOUR EMPLOYMENT” - to metropolitans and archbishops;
“YOUR Eminence” - to the bishops;
“YOUR REVERENCE” - to archimandrites and abbots of monasteries, archpriests and priests;
“YOUR REVERENCE” - to archdeacons and deacons.
asked in
How are kings addressed? Your Majesty or Your Highness? and what's the difference?
“Your Majesty” is an address to the monarch (king, king, queen).
"Your Highness" - to the prince, princess, grand duke and other children of the monarch.
In Russia there were titles used when addressing members of the Imperial House of Romanov and persons of noble origin:
"Your Imperial Majesty" - to the Emperor, Empress and Empress Dowager;
“Your Imperial Highness” - to the Grand Duke (the children and grandchildren of the emperor, and in 1797-1886 the great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren of the emperor);
“Your Highness” - to princes of imperial blood;
“Your Serene Highness” - to the younger children of the emperor’s great-grandchildren and their male descendants, as well as to the most serene princes by grant;
“Your Excellency” - to princes, counts, dukes and barons;
“Your Nobility” - to all other nobles.
asked in
how to arrange titles in ascending order - baron, duke, earl, lord. ---
King - (Latin rex, French roi, English king)
The title of monarch, usually hereditary, is the head of the kingdom. Address: Your Majesty
Prince or prince. It's the same title.
Prince - (German Prinz, English and French prince, Spanish principe, from Latin princeps - first)
One of the highest titles of representatives of the aristocracy. Currently, the correspondence of the term “prince” in Western European languages is used both in a generalized abstract sense (“sovereign”, “monarch”), and in several specific meanings. The female version of the title is princess, but the wives of princes are also called princesses.
Address: Your Highness
Prince - the head of a feudal monarchical state or a separate political entity (appanage prince) in the 9th-16th centuries among the Slavs and some other peoples; representative of the feudal aristocracy; later - the highest noble title, depending on the importance, equated to a prince or duke in Western and Southern Europe, in Central Europe (the former Holy Roman Empire), this title is called Fürst, and in Northern Europe - konung. The term "prince" is used to convey Western European titles going back to princeps and Fürst, also sometimes dux (usually duke).
Grand Duke (Princess) is a noble title in Russia for members of the royal family.
Princess is the wife of the prince, as well as the actual title of the female person of the noble class, knyazhich is the son of the prince (only among the Slavs), princess is the daughter of the prince.
Duke - (old German herizogo "der vor dem Heer zieht" - "walking before the army") dukes were relatives of the royal family, only they could have this title. That is, all dukes are members of the royal family.
Address: Your Grace
Marquis - Counts who had served the king in the service of the king usually became marquises.
Address: Your Grace, My Lord
Count - (from German Graf; Latin comes (lit.: "satellite"), French comte, English earl or count) English earl (from Scandinavian j
Graf; lat. comes (lit.: "satellite"), fr. comte, English earl or count) The English earl (from the Scandinavian jarl (jarl)) originally denoted a senior official, but since the time of the Norman kings it has become an honorary title. Enter high society.
Title: my lord
Viscount - A member of the European nobility, intermediate between a baron and a count.
A British viscount ranks higher than a baron but lower than a British duke.
A French viscount ranks higher than a baron (baron) but lower than a French count (comte). The same is true in all countries of the European continent where there is the title of Viscount. Enter high society.
Title: for example Viscount Little
Baron - (from Late Lat. baro - a word of Frankish origin with the original meaning - person, man, identical to the Russian "boyar")
the title of baron in England (where it remains to this day) is a title of a junior peer and is located in the hierarchical system below the title of viscount, occupying the last place in the hierarchy of titles of the highest nobility (peers)
Title: Baron.
Squire (in France - chevalier) is the youngest son in a noble family who owned land. Formally, they were not considered nobility and were not included in high society. However, at the same time, they were persons of blue blood and were still nobles.
Title: Lord
“Your Excellency” is a form of statutory address that corresponded to the third and fourth classes of ranks introduced by Peter the Great in 1722. This appeal existed in Russia for almost two centuries and was canceled only after the revolution in 1917. In the modern world, “Your Excellency” is used to address various government officials if it is appropriate in the form of an official letter and applies directly to the addressee and his title.
Addressing ranks according to classes
On January 24, 1722, a table of ranks was established, which gave a clear distribution of ranks into fourteen classes. Each of the fourteen classes corresponded to one of the five statutory addresses with the addition of the pronouns your, their, his, her:
- “Excellency” is an address to ranks of the first and second classes. In the “Table of Ranks” these are the highest ranks.
- "Excellency" - an address to third and fourth grades.
- "Highness" - corresponded to the fifth grade.
- "High Nobility" - sixth and eighth grades.
- "Nobility" - from ninth to fourteenth grades.
There were 262 positions in the Table. These were military (in the army and navy), civil (civil) and court ranks. All of them were divided into classes, which determined their place in the hierarchy of the civil service.
Appeals not noted in the “Table of Ranks”
In addition to the titles provided for in the table, there were separate appeals to representatives of the imperial family and the noble class, such as:
- Imperial Majesty.
- Imperial Highness.
- Highness.
- Lordship.
- Your Excellency.
- Nobility.
Also, special appeals were provided for clergy. According to the increase in their status, the clergy were called "Your Reverence", "Your High Reverence", "Your Eminence" and "Your Eminence" respectively.
History of the creation of the decree
The “Table of Ranks” was created as a unified system of rank production in Tsarist Russia. According to the “Table”, the structure of distribution of positions by seniority was also formed. Before the publication of this decree, rank books were kept in which records of appointments to positions were recorded. Similar books were kept since the reign of Ivan the Terrible and were abolished by Peter the Great.
According to historians, the idea of creating the “Table of Ranks” belonged to Leibniz. The decree is based on similar laws of some European countries. Tsar Peter personally edited the Table. The decree was signed after consideration by the Senate, as well as by the military and admiralty boards.
Description of the decree
As described above, the "Table" was a law according to which 262 civil, military and court positions were divided into 14 classes. As time passed, some positions were removed from the Table and were completely eliminated by the end of the eighteenth century. The decree consisted of a direct schedule of ranks by class and nineteen explanatory points.
The result of the “Table” was the informal abolition of the ancient Russian ranks. In addition, the possibility of obtaining a higher status became only due to personal service; the so-called “fatherly honor” no longer mattered. The publication of the decree entailed the division of the noble class into hereditary, inherited by family, and personal, served or granted. Thus, the “Table” made it possible to increase the rank of people who did not inherit a high title, but showed themselves in the service. Hereditary nobles at the same time were deprived of many privileges. Undoubtedly, this had a positive impact on the development of the Russian Empire.
It is important to note that obtaining a higher title was only possible if the person professed the Christian faith. The titles of many Tatar princes, descendants of the Murzas of the Golden Horde who remained Muslims, were not recognized until they converted to the Orthodox faith.
"Your Excellency" - addressed to whom?
The address to a person corresponded to the position he held. Violation of this regulation was punishable by a fine, as mentioned in one of the paragraphs of the “Table.” The address “Your Excellency” in Tsarist Russia was addressed to positions of the third and fourth classes.
According to Peter’s “Table”, the third class corresponded to six civil, four army and two naval ranks. The fourth class included two civilian, one court, four army and two naval positions. In military ranks these were general positions, in civil ranks they were privy councilors.
All these positions should have been addressed only as “Your Excellency.” This rule of speech etiquette was preserved in Russia until 1917. After the revolution and change of power, such addresses were abolished, and they were replaced by the address “Mr.”
Speech etiquette today
Today, the address “Your Excellency” is also used. It is often used in various kinds of diplomatic correspondence. This includes personal and verbal notes, etc. Due to the importance of such documents, it is customary to use protocol formulas of politeness (compliments) in them. As a rule, compliments are used at the beginning and end of a letter. One of these formulas is appeal. The title “Your Excellency” can be applied to the following persons:
- heads of foreign states;
- foreign ministers;
- ambassadors of foreign states;
- bishops and archbishops.
An example of using the address: “Your Excellency Mr. Ambassador.” It is important to understand that the type of treatment is also influenced by local practice and the application of titles in a particular state. The wording of the appeal also depends on the tone of the diplomatic document, on the desire of the author to give a friendly or restrained character to the letter. The most frequently used address is “Dear Mr. Ambassador”, “Dear Mr. Minister”. To add warmer, friendly notes, it is appropriate to use the final compliment “With deep respect”, “With sincere respect”.
In the Russian Empire, forms of addressing an interlocutor, on the one hand, were strictly ranked in accordance with the “Table of Ranks”, and on the other, depended on the situation.
“HIS (or HER) IMPERIAL MAJESTY” is the official title of the emperor or empress, as well as the emperor's wife and the emperor's widow, who retained all the rights and benefits of the empress regnant (and in public meetings she preceded the empress regnant). In the Romanov dynasty there were 9 emperors and 5 reigning empresses, as well as 7 consorts of emperors (two wives of Paul I - Natalya Alekseevna and Maria Fedorovna, wife of Alexander I Elizaveta Alekseevna, wife of Nicholas I Alexandra Fedorovna, first wife of Alexander II Maria Alexandrovna, wife of Alexander III Maria Feodorovna, wife of Nicholas II Alexandra Fedorovna).
“IMPERIAL HIGHNESS” was the title given to other members of the imperial family in the status of grand dukes or princesses. This status was received by the crown princes (heirs to the throne), other children and grandchildren of the emperors (in 1797-1886, also the great-grandsons and great-great-grandsons of the emperor; later this category was demoted in status to princes of imperial blood). There were 40 great princes in the Romanov dynasty, 7 of them became emperors, and 5 remained crown princes.
When communicating personally, the tsar was addressed as the Most Gracious Sovereign, and when addressing the great princes, the Most Gracious Sovereign. The princes and princesses of imperial blood were addressed - “ Your Highness"(by the way, in 2007, the last princess of the imperial blood and the last undisputed member of the imperial family of Russia, Princess Ekaterina Ioannovna, died; the status of all living “members of the imperial family” can be disputed).
The younger children of the great-grandsons of the emperor and their male descendants, as well as the most serene princes, were addressed by grant - “ Your Mightiness" In Russia throughout its history there were only 18 most serene princes by grant and 5 serene princesses (this title was given for special services to the state to persons previously elevated to the princely dignity of the Holy Roman Empire) - Alexander Menshikov, Alexander Bezborodko, Alexander Gorchakov, Alexander Chernyshev, Andrey Razumovsky, Georgy Yuryevsky, Grigory Volkonsky, Grigory Orlov, Grigory Potemkin, Dmitry Golitsyn, Ivan Paskevich, Mikhail Vorontsov, Mikhail Kutuzov, Nikolai Dadiani, Nikolai Saltykov, Pyotr Volkonsky, Pyotr Lopukhin, Platon Zubov, as well as Ekaterina Dolgorukova, Elena Naryshkina, Irina Paskevich, Olga Yuryevskaya and Charlotte Lieven.
It is interesting to note that Alexander Suvorov was never granted a royal prince: he remained the Prince of Italy, Count of the Holy Roman Empire, Grandee of the Sardinian Kingdom and Prince of Royal Blood with the title “King’s Cousin.” But, one way or another, the merits of the majority of the list of holders of the title of His Serene Highness inspire respect for anyone familiar with Russian history.
The total number of princes in the Russian Empire is measured in many thousands. And these princes were of quite different origin status. At the beginning of the reign of Peter I, there were 47 princely families descended from Russian great and appanage princes, 4 families (Golitsyns, Kurakins, Trubetskoys and Khovanskys) were descendants of the great Lithuanian prince Gediminas. There was also a fairly large number of princes - descendants of the nobility of nomadic and mountain peoples. Here the number of princely families already numbered in the hundreds (for example, there were 80 Mordovian princely families, the first of which was recognized by the Grand Prince of Moscow Vasily III as the princely family of the Akchurins).
There were also numerous Tatar princely families - descendants of the Murzas of the Golden Horde. However, in many cases when they maintained the Muslim faith and did not convert to Orthodoxy, their princely title was often not recognized by the central government with all the ensuing tax and legal consequences. Quite often, the descendants of the same ancestor received confirmation of their princely dignity if they professed Christianity, or did not receive the status of a prince if they remained Muslims.
Peter I in 1713 prohibited Muslims from owning Christian serfs. Under Catherine II in 1784, Muslim Murzas were given the right to be restored to noble dignity if they provided evidence of their noble origin. And Paul I, by his personal decree of January 20, 1797, ordered when compiling the “General Arms of the Noble Families of the All-Russian Empire” not to include the Tatar princes among the princely families (but, however, after 11 months he canceled this order - then among the Russian the princes included the Cherkasskys, Yusupovs and Urusovs).
It must be said that the majority of Russian princes, in terms of their property status, were not too different from ordinary peasants and city dwellers, often finding themselves in the service of much less eminent fellow citizens. It is known, by the way, that in the 17th century the Vyazemsky princes served for several generations as priests and sextons in villages for untitled middle-class landowners. As a result, the word “prince” (without indicating the name) or “princeling” began to be used to refer to Tatar lotoshniks (retail traders) - among them there were indeed holders of princely status. In a word, the prestige of the title of prince was fairly discredited. At the beginning of the reign of Peter I, the status of a prince was much lower than that of a boyar or even a okolnichy.
Of all the titles of Alexander Menshikov (and he would have been a count, a duke, and a prince), the princely title was the least respected. By the way, starting from the reign of Peter I and Catherine II, new princely families in legal terms arose not by grant “from Russia”, but by grant “from the Holy Roman Empire” (A. Menshikov, G. Orlov, G. Potemkin, P. Zubov ). Paul I elevated 4 people to princely dignity (including A. Suvorov), Alexander I - 4 people (including M. Kutuzov and M. Barclay de Tolly), Nicholas I - 8 people (including I. Paskevich and M. Vorontsov) .
As a result of such awards for outstanding services to the Fatherland, by the middle of the 19th century, the attitude towards the title of prince changed and became more positive. It should be noted that the title of not just prince, but His Serene Highness was often given with the address " Your Mightiness". In some cases, in addition to “lordship,” “lordship” was also bestowed. Illustrious princes, for example, became representatives of the Volkonsky, Dolgoruky, Shakhovsky families. As a result, a tradition arose when addressing all princes (and then counts) to use the form " Your Excellency».
In general, if you follow the letter of the law, or rather the provisions of the “Table of Ranks” introduced by Peter I, Russian nobles had to be addressed exclusively in accordance with their service rank. Holders of the rank of 1st and 2nd classes were addressed “ Your Excellency", 3rd and 4th grades - " Your Excellency", 5th grade – "Your Highness", 6th – 8th grades – "Your Honor", 9th – 14th grades, as well as to nobles who do not have ranks, and to honorary citizens - “ Your Honor».
Theoretically, a prince, count, baron, duke, baron without rank should be addressed as “Your Honor” (as well as an ordinary nobleman), and if princes, counts, barons and dukes were in the service, then in accordance with his rank. Legally, only the most illustrious and illustrious princes should be addressed as “Your Grace” and “Your Excellency.” But in practice, there is little need to talk about strict compliance with the treatment requirements of the “Table of Ranks” in the relations of high-born nobles.
In the second half of the 19th century, the increased prestige of the princely title noticeably weakened due to the mass recognition of Georgian nobles by princes. In 1850 alone, it was decided to recognize the princely status of 69 Georgian noble families, although many of the new princes had nothing except a small plot of land, which was usual for peasants.
In general, after Peter I, the nobles preferred to receive the title of count from the emperor, although formally it was lower than the princely title. The reason is simple - there were an order of magnitude fewer counts in Russia than princes, who “had become like dirt” in the country (formally, there were 362 count families in Russia, but about half of them died out by the end of the 19th century due to the lack of heirs). True, there were also fewer barons than princes (about 240 families at the end of the 19th century). But the status of a baron was noticeably lower than that of a count - in Europe, where the baronial title came from, he stood below the viscount, count, marquis and duke, as well as all the sons of marquises and dukes and the eldest sons of counts. In a word, it was the title of the “second spill”...
Let us also mention the exoticism of the Russian dukes. There were very few of them: you can count them on the fingers of one hand, but it’s difficult to remember foreign names. In addition to the Duke of Izhora (as well as the Duke of Kozel in Silesia) Alexander Menshikov, there were also dukes who were descendants of the closest vassals of the European reigning families. Among these “arriving” dukes was Duke Emmanuel Osipovich de Richelieu, better known to Odessa residents by his nickname Duke Richelieu.
: I propose: speech etiquette in the Russian Empire of the early twentieth century in everyday life and in the army. From janitor to emperor.We read books, watch movies and TV series, go to theaters... We encounter “your excellency” and “your excellency.” However, clear canons regulating the norms of circulation in detail are difficult to find, and those works that exist are fragmentary and of little use. How's the dark?
The word “etiquette” was introduced into use by the French king Louis XIV in the 17th century. At one of the magnificent receptions of this monarch, the invitees were given cards with rules of behavior that guests must observe. From the French name for cards - “labels” - the concept of “etiquette” comes from - good manners, good manners, ability to behave in society. At the courts of European monarchs, court etiquette was strictly observed, the implementation of which required both the august persons and those around them to comply with strictly regulated rules and norms of behavior, sometimes reaching the point of absurdity. For example, the Spanish king Philip III preferred to burn in front of his fireplace (his lace caught fire) than to put out the fire himself (the person responsible for the court fire ceremony was absent).
Speech etiquette– “nationally specific rules of speech behavior, implemented in a system of stable formulas and expressions in situations of “polite” contact with an interlocutor accepted and prescribed by society. Such situations are: addressing the interlocutor and attracting his attention, greeting, introduction, farewell, apology, gratitude, etc.” (Russian language. Encyclopedia).
Thus, speech etiquette represents the norms of people’s social adaptation to each other; it is designed to help organize effective interaction, restrain aggression (both one’s own and that of others), and serve as a means of creating an image of “one’s own” in a given culture, in a given situation.
Speech etiquette in the narrow sense of understanding this term is used in etiquette communication situations when performing certain etiquette actions. These actions can have the meaning of motivation (request, advice, proposal, command, order, demand), reaction (reactive speech acts: agreement, disagreement, objection, refusal, permission), social contact in the conditions of establishing contact (apology, gratitude, congratulations) , its continuation and completion.
Accordingly, the main etiquette genres are: greeting, farewell, apology, gratitude, congratulations, request, consolation, refusal, objection... Speech etiquette extends to oral and written communication.
Moreover, each speech genre of speech etiquette is characterized by a wealth of synonymous formulas, the choice of which is determined by the sphere of communication, the characteristics of the communicative situation and the nature of the relationship between the communicators. For example, in a greeting situation: Hello! Good morning! Good afternoon Good evening! (Very) glad to welcome (see) you! Let me welcome you! Welcome! My regards! Hello! What a meeting! What a meeting! Who do I see! and etc.
Thus, greeting helps not only to perform the appropriate etiquette speech action when meeting, but also to set a certain frame of communication, to signal official ( Let me welcome you!) or unofficial ( Hello! What a meeting!) relationships, set a certain tone, for example, humorous, if the young man answers the greeting: My regards! etc. The rest of the label formulas are similarly distributed according to their scope of use.
Addressing (orally or in writing) to persons with ranks was strictly regulated and was called a title. All slaves should have known these sweet words as “OUR FATHER.” OTHERWISE THERE COULD BE BIG TROUBLES!!!
Subjects of the Russian sovereign were certainly punished for registering the royal title. And also the punishment depended on the seriousness of the offense. Punishment on this issue was the prerogative of the highest authority. The measure of punishment was fixed either in the royal decree or in the royal decree with a boyar sentence. The most common punishments were whipping or whipping, and short term imprisonment. Not only the fact of distorting the title of the Russian sovereign, but also the application of one or more of its formulas to a person who did not have royal dignity was subject to inevitable punishment. Even in an allegorical sense, subjects of the Moscow sovereign were forbidden to use the words “tsar”, “majesty”, etc. in relation to each other. If such a fact occurred, it served as a reason for starting a search operation and was placed under the control of the highest authority. An indicative example is the “Tsar’s personal decree “On cutting the tongue of Pronka Kozulin, if the search turns out that he called Demka Prokofiev the king of Ivashka Tatariinov.” It can be said that during the period under review, an attack on the royal title was actually equated with an attack on the sovereign.
Noble etiquette.
The following title formulas were used: respectful and official address was “Dear sir, dear madam.” This is how they addressed strangers, either during a sudden cooling or aggravation of relations. In addition, all official documents began with such appeals.
Then the first syllable was dropped and the words appeared "sir, madam". This is how they began to address wealthy and educated people, usually strangers.
In the official environment (civilian and military), the following rules of address existed: the junior in rank and title was required to address the senior in title - from “Your Honor” to “Your Excellency”; to persons of the royal family - “Your Highness” and “Your Majesty”; the emperor and his wife were addressed as “Your Imperial Majesty”; Grand Dukes (close relatives of the Emperor and his wife) were titled “Imperial Highness.”
Often the adjective “imperial” was omitted, and when communicating, only the words “Majesty” and “Highness” were used (“To His Majesty with an errand ...”).
Princes who did not belong to the reigning house, and counts with their wives and unmarried daughters, were titled “Your Excellency”, the most serene princes - “Your Grace”.
Higher-ranking officials addressed their subordinates with the word “Mr.,” with the addition of their surname or rank (position). People equal in title addressed each other without a title formula (for example, “Listen, Count...”).
Common people, who did not know ranks and insignia, used such addresses as master, mistress, father, mother, sir, madam, and for girls - young lady. And the most respectful form of addressing a master, regardless of his rank, was “Your Honor.”
Military etiquette. The system of appeals corresponded to the system of military ranks. Full generals are supposed to say Your Excellency, lieutenant generals and major generals - Your Excellency. Officers, sub-ensigns and candidates for a class position are called superiors and senior staff and chief officers by rank, adding the word Mr., for example, Mr. Captain, Mr. Colonel, other lower ranks title staff officers and captains - Your Highness, other chief officers - Your Honor (those with a count or princely title - Your Excellency).
Departmental etiquette used largely the same system of addresses as the military one.
In the Russian state in the 16th - 17th centuries, there was a practice of maintaining “ranks” - rank books, in which records were annually made of appointments of service people to senior military and government positions and of royal orders to individual officials.
The first discharge book was compiled in 1556 under Ivan the Terrible and covered all appointments for 80 years from 1475 (starting from the reign of Ivan III). The book was kept in the Discharge Order. In parallel, the order of the Grand Palace kept a book of “palace ranks”, in which “everyday records” were entered about appointments and assignments in the court services of serving people. Rank books were abolished under Peter I, who introduced a unified system of ranks, enshrined in the Table of Ranks of 1722.
“Table of ranks of all military, civil and court ranks”- law on the procedure for civil service in the Russian Empire (ratio of ranks by seniority, sequence of ranks). Approved on January 24 (February 4), 1722 by Emperor Peter I, it existed with numerous changes until the 1917 revolution.
Quote: “Table of ranks of all ranks, military, civil and courtiers, who are in which rank; and who are in the same class"- Peter I January 24, 1722
The Table of Ranks established the ranks of 14 classes, each of which corresponded to a specific position in the military, naval, civil or court service.
In russian language term "rank" means degree of distinction, rank, rank, rank, category, class. By decree of the Soviet government of December 16, 1917, all ranks, class ranks and titles were abolished. Nowadays, the term “rank” has been preserved in the Russian Navy (captain of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd rank), in the hierarchy of diplomats and employees of a number of other departments.
When addressing persons who had certain ranks of the “Table of Ranks,” persons of equal or lower rank were required to use the following titles (depending on the class):
“YOUR EXCELLENCY” - to persons in the ranks of 1st and 2nd classes;
“YOUR EXCELLENCY” - to persons in the ranks of 3 and 4 classes;
“YOUR HIGHNESS” - to persons in the ranks of 5th class;
“YOUR HONOR” - to persons in the ranks of grades 6–8;
“YOUR NOBILITY” - to persons in the ranks of grades 9–14.
In addition, in Russia there were titles used when addressing members of the Imperial House of Romanov and persons of noble origin:
"YOUR IMPERIAL MAJESTY" - to the Emperor, Empress and Empress Dowager;
“YOUR IMPERIAL HIGHNESS” - to the grand dukes (the children and grandchildren of the emperor, and in 1797–1886, the great-grandsons and great-great-grandchildren of the emperor);
"YOUR HIGHness" - to the princes of the imperial blood;
“YOUR LORDSHIP” - to the younger children of the great-grandsons of the emperor and their male descendants, as well as to the most serene princes by grant;
“YOUR LORD” - to princes, counts, dukes and barons;
“YOUR NOBILITY” - to all other nobles.
When addressing clergy in Russia, the following titles were used:
“YOUR EMPLOYMENT” - to metropolitans and archbishops;
“YOUR Eminence” - to the bishops;
“YOUR REVERENCE” - to archimandrites and abbots of monasteries, archpriests and priests;
“YOUR REVERENCE” - to archdeacons and deacons.
If an official was appointed to a position of a class that was higher than his rank, he used the general title of the position (for example, the provincial leader of the nobility used the title of III-IV classes - “your excellency”, even if by rank or origin he had the title “your nobility"). When written by official When lower officials addressed higher officials, both titles were called, and the private one was used both by position and by rank and followed the general title (for example, “His Excellency Comrade Minister of Finance Privy Councilor”). From ser. 19th century the private title by rank and surname began to be omitted. When addressing a lower official in a similar manner, only the private title of the position was retained (the surname was not indicated). Equal officials addressed each other either as inferiors, or by name and patronymic, indicating the common title and surname in the margins of the document. Honorary titles (except for the title of member of the State Council) were usually also included in the title, and in this case the private title by rank was usually omitted. Persons who did not have a rank used a general title in accordance with the classes to which the title belonging to them was equated (for example, chamber cadets and manufactory advisers received the right to the general title “your honor”). When speaking orally to higher ranks, a general title was used; to equal and inferior citizens. ranks were addressed by first and patronymic or last name; to the military ranks - by rank with or without the addition of a surname. Lower ranks had to address sub-ensigns and non-commissioned officers by rank with the addition of the word “Mr.” (for example, “Mr. Sergeant Major”). There were also titles by origin (by “dignity”).
A special system of private and general titles existed for the clergy. The monastic (black) clergy was divided into 5 ranks: the metropolitan and archbishop were titled “your eminence”, the bishop – “your eminence”, the archimandrite and abbot – “your eminence”. The three highest ranks were also called bishops, and they could be addressed with the general title "sovereign". The white clergy had 4 ranks: archpriest and priest (priest) were titled - “your reverence”, protodeacon and deacon - “your reverence”.
All persons who had ranks (military, civil, courtiers) wore uniforms, according to their type of service and rank class. The ranks of the I-IV classes had a red lining in their overcoats. Special uniforms were reserved for persons who held honorary titles (secretary of state, chamberlain, etc.). The ranks of the imperial retinue wore shoulder straps and epaulets with the imperial monogram and aiguillettes.
The conferment of ranks and honorary titles, as well as the appointment to positions, the awarding of orders, etc., was formalized by the orders of the tsar in military and civil matters. and court departments and was noted in the official (service) lists. The latter were introduced back in 1771, but received their final form and began to be carried out systematically in 1798 as a mandatory document for each of the persons who were in the state. service. These lists are an important historical source when studying the official biography of these individuals. Since 1773, lists of citizens began to be published annually. ranks (including courtiers) of classes I-VIII; after 1858, the publication of lists of ranks I-III and separately IV classes continued. Similar lists of generals, colonels, lieutenant colonels and army captains were also published, as well as “List of persons who were in the naval department and fleet admirals, staff and chief officers...”.
After the February Revolution of 1917, the title system was simplified. Ranks, ranks and titles were abolished by the decree of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee and the Council of People's Commissars of November 10. 1917 “On the destruction of estates and civil ranks.”
In everyday business settings (business, work situations), speech etiquette formulas are also used. For example, when summing up the results of work, when determining the results of selling goods or participating 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.
Here are the speech cliches that 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 head of the supply department 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 boundaries!
Note, warning:
The company (directorate, board, editorial office) is forced to issue a (serious) warning (remark)…
To (great) regret (chagrin), I must (force) make a remark (condemn) ...
Often people, especially those in power, consider it necessary to express their suggestions, advice in categorical form:
All (you) must (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...
Appeal with the 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 consider it a labor, 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) ...
Agreement, The resolution 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.
It is currently not possible to do this.
Understand that 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).
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, indicates the recipient’s excellent professional abilities, his high morality, and gives an overall positive assessment:
You look good (excellent, wonderful, excellent, magnificent, young).
You do not change (have not changed, do not grow old).
Time spares you (does not take you).
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) and 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 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 is appeal– 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 - 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), address other than vocative function indicates the corresponding sign.
Finally, appeals can be expressive and emotionally charged, contain an assessment: Lyubochka, Marinusya, 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 given address words are used in an informal situation, only some of them, for example, proper names (in their basic form), names of professions, positions, serve as addresses in official speech.
A distinctive feature of officially accepted appeals in Rus' was the reflection of the social stratification of society, such a characteristic feature as veneration of rank.
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 of rank, bureaucrat, officialdom, disorderly, disorderly, destroyer of rank, destroyer of rank, admirer of rank, stealer of rank, decorum, decency, submit, subordination,
Word combinations: not by rank, distribute by rank, rank by rank, large rank, without sorting ranks, without rank, rank by rank;
Proverbs: Honor the rank of the rank, and sit on the edge of the youngest; The bullet does not distinguish the officials; For a fool of great rank, there is room everywhere; There are two whole ranks: a fool and a fool; And he would be in rank, 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-Schleswig, 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 Sovereign!
And signature:
Your Imperial Majesty's most humble slave, Mikhail Lomonosov.
The social stratification of society, the inequality that existed in Russia for several centuries, was reflected in the system of official appeals.
Firstly, there was the 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; by 12th grade – cornet, cornet; midshipman; provincial secretary.
In addition to the named ranks, which determined the system of appeals, there were 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 in relation to people of privileged social groups; sir, madam - for the middle class or master, lady for both, and the lack of a uniform appeal to representatives of the lower class. Here is what Lev Uspensky writes about this:
My father was a major official and engineer. His views were very radical, and by origin he was “from the third estate” - a commoner. But even if the fantasy had even occurred to him to say on the street: “Hey, sir, on Vyborgskaya!” or: “Mr. Cabby, are you free?” he wouldn't be happy. The driver, most likely, would have taken him for a drunken guy, or he would have simply gotten angry: “It’s a sin, master, to break down with a simple person! Well, what kind of “master” am I to you? You should be ashamed!” (Koms. 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).
“In France,” writes L. Uspensky, “even the concierge at the entrance to the house calls the landlady “Madame”; but the hostess, albeit without any respect, will address her employee in the same way: “Bonjour, Madame I see!” A millionaire who accidentally gets into a taxi will call the driver “Monsieur,” and the taxi driver will tell him, opening the door: “Sil vou plait, Monsieur!” - “Please, sir!” There, too, this is the norm” (ibid.).
After the October Revolution, all old ranks and titles were 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 dating back to the 19th century. So A.S. Pushkin has these lines:
Not a demon - not even a gypsy,
But just a citizen of the capital.
In the 18th century, this word acquired the meaning of “a full member of society, the state.”
The most boring title, of course, was the emperor.
Who was usually called “sovereign”?
Word sovereign in Russia in the old days they used it indifferently, instead of lord, master, landowner, nobleman. In the 19th century, the tsar was addressed as the Most Gracious Sovereign, the great princes were addressed as the Most Gracious Sovereign, all private individuals were addressed as the Most Gracious Sovereign (when addressing a superior), my gracious Sovereign (to an equal), my Sovereign (to an inferior). The words sudar (also with emphasis on the second syllable), sudarik (friendly) were used mainly in oral speech.
When addressing men and women at the same time, they often say “Ladies and gentlemen!” This is an unsuccessful copy of the English language (Ladies and Gentlemen). In Russian the word gentlemen corresponds equally to singular forms sir And madam, and “madam” is included in the number of “gentlemen”.
After the October Revolution, “sir”, “madam”, “mister”, “madam” were replaced by the word "comrade". It removed differences in gender (both men and women were addressed this way) and social status (since it was impossible to address a person with a low status as “sir” or “madam”). Before the revolution, the word comrade in a surname indicated membership in a revolutionary political party, including the communists.
Words "citizen"/"citizen" were intended for those who were not yet seen as “comrades”, and are still associated today with courtroom reporting rather than with the French Revolution, which introduced them into the practice of speech. Well, after perestroika, some “comrades” became “masters”, and circulation remained only in the communist environment.
