Między niebem a ziemią czy Między niebem i ziemią?
Between heaven and earth

Summary/Abstract: This paper discusses the semantic opposition between the Polish expressions między _k a _l and między _k i _l (between _k and _l). The author proposes a thesis that the opposition is clear and yet very subtle and hence, difficult to grasp and verbalise. First of all, one should notice the lack of identity between the conjunction i and a similar linguistic form, which alternates with a in the meaning of the discussed expression, but which is not semantically independent and autonomous, cf. rzucić kamień między pokrzywy i osty (throw a stone among nettles and thistles), włożyć gazetę między ścianę i szafę (insert the newspaper between the wall and the wardrobe). Although substitution of a by i does not result in a clear anomaly in the analysed contexts, semantic regularities are noticeable in their distribution. When establishing a relation between objects that are strongly associated with each other in terms of time or space (including mental space), which constitute a certain whole from the viewpoint of the speaker, i will occur. On the other hand, a is used to outline a certain opposition, contrast, and most of all autonomy of the respective items.

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