Językowy obraz diabła w przysłowiach
The Linguistic Image of the Devil in Proverbs

Summary/Abstract: The linguistic image of the devil has been implanted in the collective consciousness of language users and transmitted from generation to generation by means of proverbs. It refers to the way the devil is perceived ({Co nagle, to po diable}), the way he is judged ({Gdzie diabeł nie może, tam babę pośle}) and the set of experiences he is connected with ({Nie taki diabeł straszny, jak go malują}). However, the linguistic image of the devil has been reduced to the most typical features, commonly accepted by the authors and addressees of proverbs which, in spite of their formal simplicity, are an extremely rich source of information on people’s outlook on life. The paper is based on a rich paremiological material (750 proverbs). It shows a diversified image of the devil and his importance in people’s, families’, nations’ and world’s lives as being a part of the history which has been written for centuries and by generations.

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