"Z wyrazami prawdziwej przyjaźni" - o strukturze i stylu dedykacji autorskich w księgozbiorze Floriana Śmiei

Abstract

The article analyses a number of handwritten dedications addressed to professor Florian Śmieja – a scholar, poet, translator, editor, propagator of Polish culture abroad. All gathered dedications are placed at title pages of books and are the examples of minimalist texts based on relatively fixed compositional pattern. The pattern is determined by the verb "to dedicate": someone dedicates something to someone else. The author of the article carries out the analysis of the set of elements essential for such textual pattern. First, the addressing forms related to both the mode of contact and relations between the recipient of the dedication (endowed person) and its author (donor) are discussed. Next, the intentions expressed in the dedications are pondered as well as numerous stylistical synonyms for the verb "to dedicate" along with the names of the authors of these solemn notes. Finally, the article takes into consideration a variety of alternative and adaptative models, i.e. the particular textual modifications based on reduction of an element, selection of lexical items characterizing the addressee and actualization due to each specific occasion. The author of the article focuses both on conventional constructions (expressions of remembrance and friendship) and longer forms, often poetical or humoristic. According to the author of the article, the style of the dedications and used lexical items serve the purpose of characterizing the person, who succeeded in maintaining good and close relations with other writers in exile. The image of Śmieja that can be drawn from the dedications depicts a trustworthy and respected scholar, regarded and frankly admired, who remains in grateful memories of the many.