Czech Hypercorrection
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What Is Hypercorrection?
Hypercorrection is a linguistic phenomenon in which a speaker or writer tries so hard to use the correct form of a language that they end up making a mistake. In other words, people recognize that a certain form is considered informal or incorrect and attempt to replace it with a more prestigious or standard form. However, they apply the rule incorrectly and create a new error.
Hypercorrection often occurs when speakers are uncertain about grammar rules or want to sound more educated and formal.
Why Does Hypercorrection Occur?
Common reasons include:
a desire to speak correctly,
fear of making mistakes,
influence of school grammar instruction,
social pressure to sound educated,
uncertainty about language rules.
Examples of Hypercorrection in Czech
1. “By jsme” instead of “bychom”
Many speakers know that the colloquial form bysme is not suitable in formal Czech. In trying to sound correct, they produce:
❌ By jsme šli do kina.
Correct:
✅ Bychom šli do kina.
It also happens with – by jste which is incorrectly used instead of byste.
2. “jsi se / jsi si” instead of “ses / sis”
❌ Těšil jsi se na výlet?
Correct:
✅ Těšil ses na výlet?
3. Overusing the Relative Pronoun “jenž”
The pronoun jenž is perfectly correct in formal Czech, but using it where it does not fit naturally may be considered hypercorrect.
❌ Kamarád, jenž jsem ho včera viděl, přijde večer.
Correct:
✅ Kamarád, kterého jsem včera viděl, přijde večer.
4. “Dvěmi / oběmi” instead of “dvěma / oběma”
These forms are often incorrectly compared to the forms of “třemi / čtyřmi”
❌ Šel jsem na pivo se dvěmi kolegy.
Correct:
✅ Šel jsem na pivo se dvěma kolegy.
5. Writing down numbers
Which is correct? Even many Czechs would have doubts.
a) 15ti kilometrová procházka
b) 15-kilometrová procházka
c) 15kilometrová procházka
d) 15 kilometrová procházka
The only correct answer is c).
What’s the difference between 2 km a 2km?
2 km – dva kilometry
2km dvoukilometrový
6. Frequently mispronounced words
výjimka (vyjímka)
dceřiná (ceřiná)
bizarní (bizardní)
spontánní (spontální)
velryba (verlyba)
frustrovaný (flustrovaný)
potenciální (potencionální)
permanentka (pernamentka)
protežovat (protěžovat)
Více chyb: https://www.pravopisne.cz/2011/10/vyjimky/
TIP:
🖍️ Červená propiska
Hypercorrection in Everyday Life
Hypercorrection often appears in public speaking, job interviews, official correspondence, and other formal situations. People become more conscious of their language and try to avoid mistakes. Ironically, this extra effort can sometimes create new errors.
A natural and grammatically correct style is usually better than trying too hard to sound sophisticated.
Extra sources:
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