Vlastita imena u poljskim narodnim poslovicama

The paper deals with the elements of meaning in defining proverbs, as well as with the classification of proverbs containing a proper name. The author uses the proverbs from the Polish-Russian Dictionary of Proverbs compiled by Ryszard Stypula. The proverbs containing a proper name are classified according to the criterion of meaning into three groups: (1) anthroponymic proverbs (first and family names); (2) ethnonymic proverbs (names of nations and races) and (3) toponymic proverbs (names of places). Each proverb has been analysed in accordance with its general meaning and in comparison with its Croatian counterpart. The concluding part of the paper shows that proverbs can be observed as ethnolinguistic units of speech. The proverbs containing a proper name show — in their denotative meaning — Polish cultural environment which can be observed through the Polish names of people, nations and places, and —in their connotative meaning — these proper names show the omnipersonality which is also present in their Croatian counterparts in the form "everyone; everybody".