THE IMAGE OF DZIECIAK IN THE AWARENESS OF CONTEMPORARY POLISH USERS

Abstract

This article is an attempt to reconstruct the image of dzieciak present in the consciousness of contemporary Poles. The material for analysis is to be found in the results of a survey conducted among 360 respondents. Their task was to list five adjectives automatically associated with the word dzieciak. The collected names of properties prove axiological ambivalence associated with the word dzieciak, with a clear predominance of negative evaluation. The adjectives indicated by the respondents refer to the physical characteristics of the kid, as they also penetrate the realms of psyche, behavior and one’s relationship with the environment. It turns out that young people more often than older people identify traits evaluated negatively as they consider the word dzieciak.