The Polish Cultural Concept of Polskość (Polishness) in Ethnolinguistic Perspective

Abstract

The article deals with the cultural concept of polskość (Polishness) with the aid of methods developed in ethnolinguistics and corpus linguistics. The study explains how that concept is/was defined in contemporary and older lexicography, how it is understood today by the younger generation, what Polishness means from the point of view of the state. The concept of Polishness was defined in Polish lexicography already in the 19th century. In the light of contemporary lexicography, the lexeme polskość has three meanings, referring to the territory (Poland), the people (Poles), and origin. The definitions formulated in student surveys emphasise the bonds that hold the society together, the preservation of traditions, historical memory, the Polish meantality, as well as the knowledge of the Polish language. An association test revealed over 500 words that reflect typical associations with Polishness. In institutional discourse, Polishness appears as a set of values, attitudes and actions that deserve gratitude and that are important for the shaping of subsequent generations, especially abroad. Data from the Sketch Engine show that Polishness can be both a characteristic of a person and of something (e.g. music); it can be a reason for both pride and shame. Polishness invariably requires protection.