Abstract

This contribution deals with the approach of the contemporary Polish poet Zbigniew Herbert to language. Outside poetry, Herbert talked about it rather little and infrequently but his poems show that he did pay attention to both the language system and language use, in all its diversity. He realised that language is a convention and does not reflect reality; rather, it may hinder or even render impossible that which is the most important to the speaking subject: their individual perception and “feeling“ of reality.

In dealing with language use, Herbert usually focused on situations when language is jeopardized by violence, propaganda, and manipulation, or when it contributes to a distorted, double-faced, or oppressive reality. Sometimes, however, he dealt with situations when verbal ethics is followed. The poet paid special attention to the problem of poetic language: in his view, the need to make ethically laudable choices (e.g., to bear witness to something, to speak the truth, or to defend one’s values) does not necessarily entail esthetic compromise.