Lamus, widnokrąg, prowizorka i przyjaźń, czyli o kilku wciórnościach filozofowania w języku polskim
Lamus, horizon, makeshift and friendship. On a Few Difficulties of Philosophizing in Polish

Author(s): Marcin T. Zdrenka
Subject(s): Philosophy, Political Philosophy
Published by: Wydawnictwa Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego
Keywords: Polish philosophy; language; vocabulary; translation
Summary/Abstract: The text presents selected difficulties ("wciórności") encountered by philosophers who think in their native (Polish) language. To illustrate the problem, I give examples: the metaphors of the lamus/granary (a forgotten and unused resource of a vocabulary), a widnokrąg/horizon (as an example of an untranslatable term), a prowizorka/makeshift (an example of a translatable word, but with a specific native etymology and related semantic contexts) and przyjaźń/friendship (word that provides subtle meanings, unrecognized in other languages). The conclusion is the postulate to cultivate what is unique and specific in the native language without disregarding the requirements of a dialogue with a foreign-language thought.

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