Socio-linguistics is a branch of language science that focuses on the societal and cultural functions of language. Things that appear to be the same do not necessarily mean the same. One example is the term "eating out" which has sometimes been translated as "stołowanie się na mieście". But the cultural implications are quite different. In the West, eating out is synonymous for many with a higher standard of living, whilst in more familiocentric Poland a person who "stołuje się na mieście" may evoke pity as a unloved old bachelor, poor widower or other lonely single with no family and no home-cooked meals to come home to and therefore forced to take his meals amongst strangers. This particular example may now be changing, as yuppydom gradually takes over, and restaurants are elevated to the rank of culinary temples.
Another example is the word przedmieście -- in America suburbia is usually associated with comfortable middle-class living away from city-centre commotion and congestion. In Poland and elsehwere in Europe, this term often evokes images of grimy industrial suburbs, although luxury residential suburbs also exist.
Another example is the word przedmieście -- in America suburbia is usually associated with comfortable middle-class living away from city-centre commotion and congestion. In Poland and elsehwere in Europe, this term often evokes images of grimy industrial suburbs, although luxury residential suburbs also exist.