Językowy obraz szlachty w Kazaniach sejmowych Piotra Skargi
The linguistic view of nobility in Kazania sejmowe (Sejm Sermons) by Piotr Skarga

Summary/Abstract: The aim of this paper is to discuss the linguistic view of nobility in Kazania sejmowe (Sejm Sermons) by Piotr Skarga. The text, which has features of a political treatise, has not been thoroughly analysed in terms of language to this date. Its author not only discusses religious issues but also presents internal problems faced by the Republic of Poland there. One of their causes was to be excessive political rights of lesser nobility acquired at the expense of the king or senators’ powers. The single lexemes and longer linguistic units used by Skarga to name senators and envoys, which are indicated in this paper, create an opposing image of the two noble groups. While senators are described by the preacher using exclusively expressions with positive connotations, such as panowie (lords) (11 proofs) or ojcowie (fathers) (10), envoys – on the contrary – are called for instance pospólstwo (the hoi polloi) (6). The lexical layer of the sermons and the metaphors referring to nobility constitute the linguistic view of nobility, which is clearly divided into two camps: senator and envoy.

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