2. Introduction
The aim of this presentation is to make the
audience acquainted with the very term and,
using the example of our own culture, show them
how differently it is seen by its natives and
immigrants.
3. What are stereotypes?
Stereotypes are grossly oversimplified and
overgeneralized abstractions about groups of
people and are usually highly inaccurate although
they may contain a grain of truth.
(Pennington 1986: 90)
A stereotype refers to those folk beliefs about the
attributes characterising a social category on
which there is substantial agreement.
(Mackie 1973: 435; cited by Schneider 2004: 16)
4. Stereotypes are qualities perceived to be associated
with particular groups or categories of people.
(Schneider 2004: 24)
Stereotypes can be conceived of as processes which
have the function of simplifying judgement and
which occur in situations characterised by little
information, high complexity and pressure of time.
[...] They are thus tools for the management of
one’s environment with more or less distorting
effects.
(Schäfer 1994: 461; translated by Franklin)
6. Historical background
- First opinions about Poles: late Middle
Ages
- After the defeat of the Teutonic Order in
the battle of Grunwald
- Poles viewed as valiant
7. - A very numerous social stratum of aristocratic
knights emerges, the so-called nobility
- They were characterised mainly by great
patriotism, fighting for the motherland
- associations: freedom, equality, democracy of
nobility, honour, courage, manhood, loyalty,
hospitality
- But also: quarrelsomeness, litigiousness, religious
intolerance, dissipated lifestyle, rowdiness
8. - The proclamation of the Martial Law in
December 1981: large emigration of Poles in
the 1980’s
- Then, after the decay of Communism: borders
lifted, more emigrants from Poland
- The beginning of jokes about the Poles being
notorious for stealing cars
9. The latest great wave of emigration occurred
after the Polish accession to the European
Union in 2004
And so the story begins…
10. Poles do not speak
foreign languages.
Watch the video here:
http://youtu.be/_JIoyj6JrKc
19. A man walked into a bar and asked the
bartender, "Hey, have you heard the latest
Polack joke?" The bartender replied coldly,
"No. And I'm Polish." That's O.K.," said the
man, "I'll talk slow."
How do you sink a Polish battleship?
Put it in water.
20. - How many Polacks does it take to kidnap a
child?
- Twelve. One to kidnap the child and the
remaining eleven to write a ransom letter.
The first prize in a certain contest was a
week in Poland. The second prize was two
weeks in Poland.
- Why wasn't Christ born in Poland?
- Because they couldn't find three wisemen
and a virgin.
25. - Who are you?
- I’m your little Polish friend, socks and sandals
I always keep at hand!
26. Jesus turned water into wine.
Mr Józek turned 30 decagrams of meat
into one kilo of ham!
27. UEFA has finally decided what to do with our
National Stadium: it’s ready for rice cultivation
28. Discussion
1. Try to see your own country with the eyes
of a foreigner. What stereotypes are they
likely to create?
2. What are the ways to change a negative
image of one’s country? What should be
done to eliminate stereotypes? What can
you do?
