Grzeczność językowa w listach Katarzyny Smreczyńskiej do syna Władysława Orkana

Abstract

LINGUISTIC POLITENESS IN THE LETTERS OF KATARZYNA SMRECZYŃSKA TO HER SON WŁADYSŁAW ORKAN

The article discusses the formulas of linguistic politeness in Katarzyna Smreczyńska’s letters to her son, Władysław Orkan. The text is based on the results of research on Polish linguistic etiquette and old epistolography. The analysis covered performative speech acts typical of the issue. The use of polite formulas served to emphasise the personal bond between the dialogue participants. It was responsible for maintaining contact in an indirect communication situation, which proves the power of the phatic function in letters. The text attempts to answer the question of how the letter writers influenced communication etiquette. Katarzyna Smreczyńska’s addition of random writers influenced the pace of exchange of correspondence and required acts of politeness (for example, justifying her tardiness). The participation of intermediaries writing down the text made it possible to initiate etiquette acts that went beyond the conventional composition of a letter.