The writer and public figure Vytautas Čeps crossed the shoulders of the guardians of the Lithuanian language: “The language is ending its degeneracy, and what are they doing?” This is how the famous Klaipėda man reacted to the names of dishes on the menu of one restaurant chain – “cepus” and “šaltekus”. This is what zeppelins and blizzards are now called.
Not degeneration, but creation?
“The letterless generation is growing. Look at how young people write on Facebook – without Lithuanian letters, with terrible grammatical mistakes and without punctuation marks. How would they spell my last name? Of course he would write “Cepas”. Thank you so much, it’s eating me up. During the Soviet era, everyone who was not lazy ate, and now they will finally eat,” V. Čep said ironically on the eve of the Day of Press Recovery, Speech and Book Day.
However, the head of the State Language Inspectorate, Audrius Valotka, when asked about the menu offered to customers in the Čili Pica restaurant, which offers to taste “ceps”, assured that this is not a degeneration of the Lithuanian language at all, but a creation.
“Terms and spelling rules are a matter for the Language Commission, but I will comment briefly. The abbreviation “cepai” for “Cepelinų” is an example of language creation based on the principle of language economy. In this case, the four-syllable word “zepelinas” is made into the quickly pronounced (and written) two-syllable noun “cepas”. In the same way, once “stitipendium” became “stipendium”, and instead of the correct “typist” we have “typist”. Next to “cepo” we also find “cepak”, there are probably more derivatives”, reasoned A. Valotka.
Still, A. Valotka does not predict that “cepas” or “cepak” will become an officially used word.
“I don’t think that ‘cepai’ will become a recognized term in the near future, but it will probably remain and live as an example of advertising creativity.” After all, the love of the Motherland is not measured by the name of zeppelins”, stated A. Valotka.
Priorities: A. Valotka became famous for his fight against the writing of street names on signs in Polish. And here are the degenerate names of Lithuanian dishes – a matter of creativity. / Personal archive photo.
An unimaginable thing
Sigita Sereikienė, the chief specialist of the General Department of the State Lithuanian Language Commission, explained that the word “cepai” can be evaluated as a colloquial variant.
“As the head of the State Language Inspectorate writes, it is based on the principle of language economy. Perhaps such a word can be considered as slang, but not as abnormal. “Zepelin”, from which “ceps” is made, is a normative word. Of course, it’s not a term and it’s unimaginable that it would ever be, but as a certain language game, I think it’s completely acceptable, because the menu doesn’t contain a text of business language”, explained S. Sereikienė.
Sitting in warm chairs and afraid
V. Čepas explained what he thinks about the responsible budget officers, who should protect the Lithuanian language and not stomp on the spot.
“They are afraid. You sit in well-paid chairs, the salary is high. And if such a place is lost, it will be necessary to go to work in the library, to distribute books. What I have to read in public is horrifying. Everyone calls each other shit, everything gets brutal. The time has come when moderation is lost. Rimantas Taraškevičius, the former mayor of Klaipėda, called recently. He said that he was in the theater. The man shuddered – curses poured from the stage throughout the performance. Well, after swearing once or twice, maybe nothing. That’s why my friend asked: what’s going on here?” said V. Čepas.
The time has come when moderation is lost.
V. Čep noticed that everything that is told from the stage or written to hundreds and thousands of people is a public matter.
“I even write comments with my first and last name. If you write publicly, you must follow at least basic rules. Hearing it on TV gave me the chills. They are there “running errands”, not working. After all, they don’t say “I do the eating”. The presenters do not know how to emphasize the word “question”. In the past, language inspectors would at least make comments. And now what are they doing?” V. Čep remarked.
Generations: V. Čep pointed out that illiterate youth no longer know what language culture is. / Photo by Ryčis Laurinavičius.
Abbreviations are idiocy
V. Čep has published more than one book, so the issue of language is no stranger to him.
“Some words can be shortened. But there must also be moderation. J. Basanavičius Street in Palanga has become “Basanke”. But J. Basanavičius or J. Jablonskis suggested to change the word “twilight” to “kiauliaviegė”. Due to the fact that pigs are hungry at this time. But such a word did not catch on. Twilight, when it’s not dark, but it’s not light. And “zeppelin” is an international word. I should probably thank you for building a culinary monument with that “bake” while I was still alive, V. Čep laughed.
He pointed out that the introduction of abbreviations into the language is no creativity.
“The phone will become a ‘phone’?” Is it supposed to turn into a tractor? I can’t listen to country leaders or TV presenters saying “pem” instead of five, “sem” or “sixty” instead of sixty. After all, someone should demonstrate what the correct language is,” emphasized V. Čepas.
Newbies – for the youth
Kamilė Rimkutė, marketing manager of the “Čili Pica” company, explained that the dish called “cepai” is intended for young people.
Chili Pizza has always been a cozy place where our guests can enjoy food and company in a comfortable and relaxed way. Therefore, informal communication is much more natural for us. Thus, the use of such a name was encouraged by the visitors themselves, who often called zeppelins that way in their mutual speech”, explained K. Rimkutė.
This restaurant chain calls zeppelins “zepai za Tepynė”.
“This is how we point out that this is a creative name. In the description of the dish, guests find words from the common Lithuanian language dictionary. Therefore, those in a more cheerful mood order “fried ceps”, and for those who are more restrained, we offer “deliciously fried dizhkukulis with dill greens”, – the representative of the company answered the inquiry of the daily newspaper.
