Szwejk, piwo i knedliki – stereotypy o Czechach w polskiej przestrzeni publicznej (na wybranych przykładach)
Švejk, beer and knedlíky – stereotypes of the Czech and the Czech Republic in the Polish public space (on selected examples)

Summary/Abstract: This article focuses on the issue of Czech stereotypes in the Polish public space. Attention was drawn to the meaning and functions of stereotypes as a frame of references, which allow for the assessment, ordering reality and integration of the social groups. Article briefl y discusses the most popular stereotypes, paying particular attention to their genesis and their historical conditions and highlighting the stereotypical perception of the Czechs and Czech culture. The analysis showed that Poles look at the Czechs through the prism of humorous and comedic tradition, that is why stereotypes are full of references to the Czech sense of humour, soldier Švejk or Czech comedies. In Poland Hašek’s protagonist Josef Švejk became synonymous with a Czech – cowardly, carefree, valuing peace, fond of alcohol, and his ‘survival at all costs’ strategy could be both alluring and re- pulsive. The analysis was complemented with the examples of the refl ections of national stereotypes in various linguistic phenomena. Polish phraseology with adjective czeski almost automatically re- ceive a negative meaning (eg. czeski fi lm, czeski błąd), while the non-phraseological meaning of above mentioned in Poland is defi nitely positive.

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