Kategorie gramatyczne a językowy obraz świata

Abstract

The grammar of every language codes a body of meanings characteristic of that language. Expression of the grammaticalised meanings is obligatory and largely automatic. Individual languages contain grammatical categories specific to them and differ from one another not only with regard to the number of those categories but also their type, the internal structure of the categories they share (different numbers of subcategories) and the nature of their specific categories (which can be of the selecting or modelling type). These differences are exemplified in the study, the titular relationship being illustrated with the category of gender. The following problems are in the focus of attention: 1. Is there any relationship between concepts and the grammatical gender of the words that express them? 2. In what way does the grammatical gender of words influence our view of those aspects of reality that correspond to the words in question? 3. How can one explain the similarities and differences with regard to gender between corresponding words in various languages?