sermoensachtige

Sermoensachtige is a Dutch adjective used to describe discourse that resembles a sermon. In literary and linguistic criticism, it denotes a didactic, exhortative, and moralizing tone that aims to instruct the audience and persuade them toward a particular belief or action. The term is applied to religious sermons as well as to secular texts that imitate sermon-like instruction.

Etymology and formation: The word is formed from the noun sermon, with the Dutch suffix -achtig meaning “like” or “resembling.” It ultimately derives from Latin sermo meaning “discourse,” with the sense evolving through historical usage in Dutch religious and literary contexts.

Characteristics: Common features include direct address to the audience, the use of imperative constructions, prescriptive judgments, and exhortations; appeals to universal norms; and the possible use of exempla, scriptural or moral references, and rhetorical questions. The tone is typically straightforward and persuasive, prioritizing guidance over nuanced argument.

Usage and nuance: In criticism, sermoensachtige descriptions place a text within homiletic or didactic traditions. It can appear in religious sermons or sermon-like prose in religious or political writing, as well as in modern journalism that mimics sermon rhetoric. The term often carries a mildly negative connotation when the text seems overly preachy or moralistic.

Related terms: sermonic, sermon-like, didactic, moralistic.