From "proszę łaski pana" to "proszę pana" Cover Image

Od "proszę łaski pana" do "proszę pana"
From "proszę łaski pana" to "proszę pana"

Author(s): Kazimierz Sikora
Subject(s): Language and Literature Studies
Published by: Towarzystwo Miłośników Języka Polskiego
Keywords: verbal etiquette; verbal politeness; forms of address; language history

Summary/Abstract: In the article the author presents his view on the origin of the forms of address like "proszę pana/pani". He proves they were initially performative utterances to beg pardon for causing the interlocutor some trouble: "proszę łaski wielmożnego pana / wielmożnej pani" (compare German "entschuldigung / entschuldigen Sie", English "excuse me" etc.). The conclusions are based on an analysis of lexical sources and examples from the Polish 19th and 20th century belles-lettres.

  • Issue Year: 2013
  • Issue No: 4
  • Page Range: 287-298
  • Page Count: 12
  • Language: Polish