{Zgoła} wśród rzeczy podobnych
{Zgoła} among similar units

Summary/Abstract: This article concerns the lexical restrictions and the meaning of the word {zgoła}, which—although pragmatically not neutral—is relatively common in the Polish language corpora. The author argues that this word, contrary to descriptions proposed in Polish monolingual dictionaries, is not an adverb but rather a particle which operates on the meta-level of language. Moreover, it may not be considered as a semantic equivalent to the units such as: {całkowicie}, {zupełnie}, {kompletnie}, {absolutnie}, {wręcz}. The expression {zgoła} implies a competition of two predicates which provide two different specifications of a given object. One of these specifications is epistemically stronger than the other one. The speaker indicates such an approach to the subject of their interest, according to which nothing disturbs the adequate predication any longer, since the subject is fully exposed. In this situation he or she can take a risk of saying something that is stronger than what could be said in other circumstances. The author criticizes the definition formulated by Maciej Grochowski, and proposes a different-representation of the considered meaning.

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