Words have power!
you will explain the meanings of idiomatic expressions and proverbsproverbs related to the concept of “word”
you will tell what euphemismseuphemisms are
you will give examples of euphemisms
you will use a dictionary
you will create a language rule for language users
From the earliest times people believed that words have a magical power: what we are talking about can really happen. Proverbs grew out of such conviction: speak of the devil and the devil appears, let the sleeping dogs lie, don’t even think about it or the superstition ordering to knock three times on an unpainted wood.
Some phenomena (disease, death, physiological activities) so far are covered by the so‑called tabootaboo language. You must not talk about them. If, however, a need arises, you can use substitute euphemisms without breaking the prohibition. Instead of saying that someone has died, we will say: he passed awayhe passed away, he is counting worms, he took the last train to gloryhe took the last train to glory. Euphemistically, we also call certain faults, e.g. someone has sticky fingershas sticky fingers, someone is plumpplump.
What do the given euphemisms mean? Combine euphemisms with their literal meaning. Combine in pairs.
autumn years, in the prime of life, to pass away, to bend the truth, plump, slow thinker
old age | |
to die | |
fat | |
old man | |
to lie | |
stupid |
Complete the definitions of euphemism and taboo. Write down both definitions in a notebook. Drag the items to the correct places.
dangerous, too, necessary, funny, banned, indecent, because, term, speak, boring, feelings, instead of, story
Euphemism is a .................... or a phrase that is used .................... another, considered .................... blunt, ...................., embarrassing or offending someone's .....................
Taboo - what you do not .................... about or what is .................... in a society, .................... it is shameful, ...................., controversial or unpleasant.
Complete Polish proverbs.
ważyć, niewart, złotem, słowa, sześć, srebrem, kości, głowie, kosztuje, ciepło, uszy
Dobre słowo mało ................, a pomaga wiele.
Dobre słowo zawiera ................ wystarczające na trzy zimy; złe słowo może dotknąć jak ................ miesięcy mrozu.
Gdy usłyszysz złe słowo, umyj zaraz .................
Mądrej ................ dość dwie słowie.
Kto słowa nie dotrzymuje, ten słowa .................
Ryby łowi się na wędkę – ludzi na .................
Słowa trzeba ................, a nie liczyć.
Mowa jest ................, a milczenie .................
Słowo, choć nie z głazu, może rozbić .................
If you do not know what a word means, what connections it creates with other words, you can use a dictionary, a Polish language dictionary or an English dictionary. You will find a lot of useful information in dictionaries.
Compare dictionary entries of the same word in the Polish dictionary and in the English dictionary. Pay attention to the descriptions.
![](https://static.zpe.gov.pl/portal/f/res/R1NWH0WAj3SMn/2/2aywrQxJbytU2B0yzD7xb7thsO2o12oS/ALTERNATIVE-STATIC/fwTSYtKHbQE1q5nfBtfWOXoW3EJJgu5D.png)
1. Informacja o nacechowaniu wyrazu: potocznie, lekceważąco albo pogardliwie.
2. Definicja znaczenia.
3. Stałe połączenia wyrazowe, frazeologizmy z danym słowem.
4. Definicja znaczenia frazeologizmu.
5. Informacja o rodzaju i odmianie.
![](https://static.zpe.gov.pl/portal/f/res/R1PrTeL24Yw6F/2/Law8rsWCemaVsasRxhPcnvhVJtfLJpiQ/ALTERNATIVE-STATIC/2f3R7kjpeU2nyXMIkAsWJikKitkAwmrJ.png)
1. Information about pronunciation.
2. Information about part of speech.
3. Information about the word characterises: offensive.
4. Meaning.
5. Examples of the use.
What words can be? Choose the right adjectives. Then write down the created compounds in a notebook. Explain their meaning. Insert the right words in the empty space.
............ (sweet/salty) words
............ (blunt/sharp) words
............ (bitter/sour) words
............ (gravelly/smooth) words
............ (empty/full) words
............ (strong/frail) words
............ (slippery/rough) words
Match the verbs and nouns of Polish idiomatic expressions.
głową, gruszki na wierzbie, słowa, słowo, miłość, przysięgę
dotrzymywać | |
dawać | |
składać | |
ręczyć | |
ślubować | |
obiecywać |
Use the well‑known sayings and proverbs to write 10 instructions for language users. Write them here or in a notebook.
How was this lesson? Did you like it? Finish selected sentences.
![](https://static.zpe.gov.pl/portal/f/res/R1O2WqTnNb1uG/2/JYuDo6Q8SrqGGgdHEc0pjLy4yVdnTjL8/ALTERNATIVE-STATIC/20zjRPYX2NheMX6khaGY0y9dK6aWjzjb.png)
Keywords
word, meaning, euphemism, taboo
Glossary
eufemizm
tabu
polski odpowiednik: odejść (umrzeć); brak dosłownego odpowiednika w języku polskim
polski odpowiednik: przenieść się do wiecznej (boskiej, niebieskiej) chwały (umrzeć); brak dosłownego odpowiednika w języku polskim
polski odpowiednik: wąchać kwatki od spodu (być martwym); brak dosłownego odpowiednika w języku polskim
pulchny
polski odpowiednik: mieć lepkie ręce (mieć skłonność do kradzieży); brak dosłownego odpowiednika w języku polskim
okoliczności
przysłowie