Stereotypes ingrained in language: the concepts of right and left in Spanish, Polish and English

Resumen

This article presents a comparative analysis of the concepts of right and left in Spanish, Polish and English. The authors depart from the precise definition of a language stereotype proposed by Bartmiński's studies (1996, 2012), and offer an explanation of how the language's features differ from the meaning of a language prototype presented by cognitive research. The authors maintain that both concepts can complement each other. By linking the features of stereotype and prototype, a full picture of semantic concepts can be created, especially of those with strong cultural connotations. The comparison of the symbolism linked to the notions of right and left and the comparative analysis of their cultural connotations show the similarities and differences between those concepts in Spanish, Polish, and English.