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Dear colleagues,
As we enter a new year, it is usually time to take stock. As a linguist, I frequently follow the annual word of the year polls. In previous years, words like pandemic, lockdown or anti-vaxxer dominated the English-speaking areas. In 2023, it was words like rizz or those associated with big language models: hallucinate, authentic, and AI. I don't think I'm alone in rejoicing at this development.
Even the Czech “words” of the year, which in the past have been voted by readers of Lidové noviny (e.g., pražská kavárna, motýle, sorry jako), awaken, if not hope, at least a kind of temporary relief by their irrelevance. For me, the hot candidate for word of the year for several years has been the word výjimka (exception). Not because of its content but because of the way it is written. On the internet, one can find plenty of explanations for why the výjimka is spelt the way it is. Just think (supposedly) that výjimka is from the word vyjímat (excerpted from) same as výšivka (embroidery) is from the word vyšívat (embroider). The fact that we all make a “mistake” in writing this word (and write vyjímka or výmka) is, for many, a reflection of ignorance, disinterest and loss of feeling for the mother tongue. For me, the word is a symbol of something else entirely. I am convinced that vyjímka is at least as good a way of writing as výjimka. Why? Suffice it to say that the vyjímka is from the word vyjímat as much as vyžírka (freeloader) is from the word vyžírat (eat). I am also convinced of the correct spelling of výmka. When something locks (se zamyká), it is a lock (zámek); when five things are out of the rule (se vymyká), it is five exceptions (výmek).
The word výjimka thus symbolizes for me everything that is wrong with teaching Czech: it is the propagation of dogmatic thinking in the name of tradition and scholarship. I don't know how much pedagogical effort has already been devoted to collectively denying facts and logic to convince generation after generation of relatively obvious nonsense: that výjimka is the only correct spelling of the word výmka. The consequence of this approach is generations of children who feel that they cannot speak Czech correctly when they go through school.
As it happens, the least rational elements of belief tend to be the most solid. The idea that the spelling of the word výjimka will change in anyone's lifetime is in the unlikely category. From my position as an associate professor of Czech studies, I should presumably serve as the one who, with a raised finger, will gladly repeat for the hundredth time that výjimka is like výšivka. But perhaps the purpose of bohemistics, and the humanities in general, is not just to preserve tradition, nor is it to relentlessly convince others of the meaning of that tradition. Perhaps the meaning of the humanities is also to be able to call things by their proper names. To help ensure that students are not afraid to use their reason despite tradition.
I don't know how transferable my experience is to your fields. But I wish all of us that the word of 2024 will become výmka.
Pavel Caha
Vice Dean for Research and Project Management, Faculty of Arts MU
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