Uniwersytet SWPS

Wydział Nauk Humanistycznych w Warszawie

ul. Chodakowska 19/31
03-815 Warszawa
https://www.swps.pl

Contact: dr Emma Oki

events

Creolization: From Language to Culture

lecture on the noc anglistów youtube channelonline

When?
For whom?	dorośli
Where?	online: YouTube (link TBA soon); time TBA soon
Language	in English
Teachers	Dr. Gavin Herbertson

In this short talk, I introduce the concept of creolization, first explaining its origins and meaning in linguistics, and then exploring how the term has been reinterpreted and expanded within cultural studies and literature. I also discuss how creolization has become a metaphor for cultural mixing, identity formation, and creativity in global contexts.

High-Context, Low-Context… High-Drama: Cultural Styles Hidden in Everyday English

lecture on the noc anglistów youtube channelonline

When?
For whom?	dorośli
Where?	online:
Language	in English
Teachers	Dr. Paulina Grzęda

Mini-lecture decoding how people from different cultures use English in radically different ways even when the grammar is correct

Why do some English conversations feel perfectly clear to one person and utterly baffling to another? This mini-lecture reveals how invisible cultural styles - high-context and low-context - shape the way people use English globally. Expect surprising examples, a dash of drama, and a new appreciation for the cultural layers beneath our lingua franca, which will help you to communicate more clearly across cultures.

False Friends between English and Other Languages: A Multilingual Perspective and Semantic Change

workshopat the university

When?	18:00 - 19:30
For whom?	liceum, dorośli
Where?	at the university: Uniwersytet SWPS, ul. Chodakowska 19/31, 03-815 Warszawa, SALA TBA, 20 miejsc, ZAPISY: Olesia Rohovska, orohovska@st.swps.edu.pl
Language	in English
Teachers	Koło naukowe Omnilinguae Linguistics Research Group

We want to look at interesting cases of false friends, such as English-Norwegian "gift", English-Ukrainian “magazine” or English-Spanish “embarrassed.” Drawing on examples from the many languages that the participants of our group know or study, we will invite the audience to discover the meanings of false friends with the aim to uncover word histories, distinguish true from false cognates, and investigate the mechanisms of semantic change that gave rise to the differences in meaning.

False Friends in English: A Cross-Disciplinary Approach

lectureonline

When?	17:30 - 18:00
For whom?	liceum, dorośli
Where?	online: Google Meet
Language	in English
Teachers	mgr Julia Detkowska

With its status as a lingua franca, English serves as a meeting point for speakers from a wide range of cultural and linguistic backgrounds. In such a rich environment, ESL or EFL learners may occasionally encounter challenges, particularly when familiar-looking words turn out to have unexpected or misleading meanings: commonly known as false friends. If these words are not properly recognized, their use can result in situations ranging from amusing misunderstandings to socially awkward or demanding encounters.

This online event is part of an on-site workshop organized by the Omnilinguae Research Group and focuses specifically on the phenomenon of false friends. It explores their relevance for future language specialists working in fields such as teaching, translation, and cross-cultural communication. The project aims to foster open discussion while providing academic insight into this subtle but impactful aspect of language learning.

Laughing Together, Laughing Apart: How Ethnic Jokes Connect and Divide