Nazewnictwo obrządku zaślubin i wesela w gwarach cieszyńskich dawniej i dziś
Vocabulary of engagement and wedding in dialects of the Cieszyn region (on the Polish-Czech border)

Summary/Abstract: In my paper I am analyzing South Silesian vocabulary referring to names of fiancées, brides, fiancés, grooms, and to expressions concerning period between proposal and marriage like: to be affianced, betrothed, engaged to be married. Some of those words are very old and archaic (for example snymby, wiesieli); other include semantic evolution or change. For example: the Polish archaic lexeme niewiasta ‘women’ or ‘wife’ changed its meaning under the influence of the Czech ‘bride’. To a lesser extend the paper describes that period in its cultural, ethnic, religious and social context. I also touch upon superstitions, magical practices, wedding songs and ritual speeches related to it. I often refer to Lucjan Malinowski’s research. He was probably the first Polish linguist and ethnographer, who described the Silesian wedding ceremonies (Wisła, 1859).

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