Grzeczność w listach Marii Pwalikowskiej-Jasnorzewskiej do męża

Abstract

The linguistic material analyzed in this article has been selected from a publication entitled “Maria z Kossakow Jasnorzewska. Listy do przyjaciół i korespondencja z mężem (1928-1945)”, published by Kossakiana in Krakow in 1998. The content is organized in the following manner: 1. Introduction to the topic, including a reminder of rules of politeness in the Polish language and culture. 2. Brief characteristic of the source of language material. 3. Presentation and discussion of selected examples. Tracing the linguistic layer of M. Pawlikowska-Jasnorzewska’s letters brings evidence of use of fundamental norms of Polish linguistic politeness, such as showing respect of her partner and manifesting interest in matters important to him and more specific rules, such as compassion, kindness and approval for her partner’s doings, demonstrating the desire to be in his company, declaring support. The contents of correspondence to her husband also show deliberate actions related to G. Leech’s formal principles of approval and minimizing contention.