Lexical terminology of children relating to their age in the language of the oldest and the youngest inhabitants of villages of Pogórze

Abstract

The article presents lexical terminology of children relating to their age, which are present in the region of Pogórze Ciężkowicko-Rożnowskie (on the border of tarnowskie and nowosądeckie counties). The Language material was gathered by means of a questionnaire. It was answered by almost 200 people, who represent two age groups: middle-school students, and the oldest inhabitants of the area in question. The results revealed significant differences in the way a child is perceived by the students and by the oldest generation. The respondents representing these two groups determine different caesura for adulthood, and they also justify this choice differently. Lexical terminology of children relating to their age constitutes a significantly larger number of lexical items in the language of the older inhabitants of Pogórze. Students more frequently quote names common in general Polish language, both in its colloquial and regional form. Older respondents are more keen to use differentiating dialectal terms, including lexical items referring to the past reality of village life. Students are familiar mainly with the dialectal lexical items for children that are widespread in the area in question and have numerous derivatives.