Demotic
/di:'mɔtik/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Adjective:
- Of or for the common people; popular or colloquial: Pertaining to the language, culture, or style used by ordinary people in everyday life, as opposed to formal or elite usage.
- Of or written in the form of modern Greek based on colloquial use: Specifically relating to Demotic Greek, the vernacular form of Modern Greek that was used in everyday speech and writing.
Noun:
- The modern Greek vernacular: The Demotic form of the Modern Greek language.
- A simplified cursive form of the ancient Egyptian hieratic script: A script used in ancient Egypt for everyday documents, as opposed to hieroglyphics used for formal inscriptions.
Usage Examples
Adjective:
- The politician used a demotic style of speaking to connect with voters.
- The novel is celebrated for its demotic dialogue, capturing how people really talk.
- Demotic Greek was officially adopted for education and government in the 20th century.
Noun:
- He was a scholar of ancient languages, specializing in Demotic. (Referring to the Egyptian script)
- The poet wrote in demotic to reach a wider audience. (Referring to the Greek vernacular)
Advanced Usage
- "demotic speech": Everyday, informal language used by the general populace.
- The writer's shift to demotic speech marked a new phase in his work.
- "demotic culture": Cultural products or practices originating from or aimed at the common people.
- The festival celebrated demotic culture through folk music and street performances.
Variants and Related Words
- Demotist (n): A specialist in the study of Demotic (the Egyptian script).
- Demoticism (n): The use of or advocacy for the demotic language or style.
Synonyms
- Colloquial: (of language) used in ordinary or familiar conversation; not formal or literary.
- Vernacular: The language or dialect spoken by the ordinary people in a particular country or region.
- Popular: Suited to the understanding or taste of ordinary people.
Antonyms
- Formal: Done in accordance with rules of convention or etiquette; suitable for official or serious occasions.
- Hieratic: Of or concerning priests; also, a cursive form of Egyptian hieroglyphics, simpler than hieroglyphics but more formal than Demotic.
- Classical: Representing an exemplary standard within a traditional and long-established form or style.
Related Phrases and Contexts
- "demotic vs. katharevousa": Refers to the historical linguistic dispute in Greece between the Demotic (vernacular) and Katharevousa (a purified, archaic form) varieties of Modern Greek.
- The language question in Greece centered on the conflict between demotic and katharevousa.
- "demotic script": Specifically refers to the ancient Egyptian writing system.
- The Rosetta Stone was inscribed with three scripts: hieroglyphic, demotic, and Greek.
Adjective
- of or for the common people
- demotic entertainments
- demotic speech
- a poet with a keen ear for demotic rhythms
- of or written in or belonging to the form of modern Greek based on colloquial use
Noun
- the modern Greek vernacular
- a simplified cursive form of the ancient hieratic script
- Demotic script was eventually replaced by Greek