Obraz stołu w polszczyźnie
The picture of a table in Polish language

Summary/Abstract: The present article attempts to reconstruct, in terms of language, the picture of a table on the basis of Polish proverbs, idiomatic phrases, etymology and lexical-graphical definitions of the word table. Word formation sets with the lexeme table were analysed, most of which were terminology expressions, as well as collocations listed in dictionaries. The basic aspects in the linguistic picture of the artifact are: the use and appearance of a table — clearly interrelated. The majority of the gathered lexicographical material comes from the resources of Old Polish language which is why in the linguistic picture of a table there are two clearly visible points of view: one of a nobleman and another of a peasant. From the perspective of a nobleman, a table appears both as a place which designates or, rather, asserts high social status and as a place where the code of ‘savoir-vivre’ must be obeyed. “Full” table as a reward for work is a picture built from the perspective of a peasant.

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