The Opposition of the OWN – ALIEN in Czech phraseology

Abstract

The linguistic image of the world encompasses stereotypes, i.e. simplified assessments and value judgments, on the one hand negative ones, which reflect prejudices, on the other hand these are positive images. The opposition OWN – ALIEN is based on stereotypes embedded in language. It has an axiological character, as it is an expression of division: OWN is the good one, and ALIEN is the bad one. This opposition is the basic opposition in Czech phraseology and reflects the common interpretation of the world, shaped by anthropocentrism, according to which concepts are formed on the basis of opposing semantic categories, e.g. human – animal, life – death, Czech – foreigner, healthy – sick, young – old, beautiful – ugly, etc. In the analysed material, antinomy is manifested in the juxtaposition of opposing characterizations: own – alien as: friend – enemy, caregiver – persecutor, devoted – indifferent, good-natured – deceitful, similar to me – different from me.