Jezični savjeti
Radovan Vidović's Language Advice is a normative manual aimed at correcting language errors in the Croatian language, with an emphasis on standard usage in the mass media, administration, and everyday speech.
Vidović, a prominent Croatian linguist, recorded irregularities from newspapers, radio, television, films, advertisements and meetings, creating a practical guide to correct expression. The book was created out of the need for clear language guidelines in contemporary communication, and the subtitle, according to the author, could be With a Red Pencil in Hand, because it critically corrects common errors.
The manual is divided into four parts, the first of which, the most extensive, deals with "sentences suffering from various linguistic diseases". Vidović analyzes syntactic, morphological and lexical irregularities, offering examples of incorrect and correct expression. The focus is on respecting language rules, relying on dictionaries, grammars and literary tradition. The work polemicizes with linguistic dilemmas, such as the use of foreign words, irregular cases or stylistic inconsistencies, and advises on how to harmonize language with the norms of the standard.
The book is important for journalists, editors, administrators and anyone who wants to improve their linguistic expression. Vidović's approach is advisory, but also subjective, based on his observation of language practice. Language Advice remains a relevant manual for understanding and preserving the Croatian language.
Two copies are available
