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.
What about 'Eating Out'??-:)
The first time I visited Poland, around 1994 or so, I discovered in the medium-sized city I was staying in, a dearth of what in corresponding US cities would be regular middle-class restaurants/coffee shop-style diners, where one normally goes for breakfast or lunch.
If Szczecin was typical, there were ZERO such places, except perhaps in the local tourist hotel (a Radisson, as I recall), to 'grab a bite' to eat in the casual manner in which we do so here. I was left with either nothing, it seemed, or huge Communist Era-style dining halls ('restauracje'), almost cavernous looking, where service with a smile was a foreign concept and where so few diners went, that I found myself often quite alone beside menus which appeared to be gathering dust!!! Finally, if lucky, a heavyset, middle-aged intimidating-looking drink soddened waitress as if from an old Cold War movie, arrived and looked startled to see a soul there at all. After reluctantly taking my order, I waited in vain for the food (some lonely cold cuts on a large China platter). The bill though was a jest, the equivalent of two bucks for a veritable feast. I then left, leaving only a small tip for which I received not even an ackowledgment or (horrors) gratitude.
Just curious if my experience was usual, apropos the subject of the sociolinguistics of eating out.
Admit it, Marek, you had sex with that fat, miserable, communist waitress...
I would!
Any loser can play a game of 'Snog a dog' when there out with the mates at a local nightclub BUT sleeping with the ugliest menial worker in Szczecin takes real guts.
Viva la revolution!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Zubruvwkak. Itts greeat
