CHWILA I MOMENT W UJĘCIU SEMANTYCZNYM
CHWILA AND MOMENT IN THE SEMANTIC PERSPECTIVE

Summary/Abstract: The article provides a comparative analysis of two Polish expressions: chwila and moment (respectively, in English: while and moment). It focuses primarily on the description of their meaning, in particular determining whether the juxtaposed expressions are in a relationship of mutual implication, i.e. synonymy (equivalence), or whether it is possible to identify in their meaning structures elements that differ. Semantic considerations are preceded by an attempt to distinguish units of language with the analyzed expressions in authentic utterances. Then the scrutiny focuses on noun units that are functionally the basis for strings with the chwila and moment segment, which are exclamatory and adverbial in their nature, as well as those accompanying imperatives. The proposed solutions are significantly impacted by the polysemy of the analyzed units and the adequacy of their description, discussed in this text mainly in the context of the assumptions adopted in two selected dictionaries of contemporary Polish: Inny słownik języka polskiego [Another Dictionary of the Polish Language] edited by M. Bańko, and Wielki słownik języka polskiego [The Great Dictionary of the Polish Language] edited by P. Żmigrodzki. Due to discovering discrete meaning differences concerning the solutions presented there, the author partially agrees with the lexicographic proposals. She distinguishes two meanings of the analyzed units: primary temporal and secondary quasi-temporal (event-related). Within the former, she confirms synonymy of the compared units – similarly to the authors of the dictionary descriptions; within the latter, she establishes its lack – contrary to the theses of lexicographers.

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