Clothing as an Element of Sociocultural Knowledge in Foreign Language Textbooks

Abstract

This study investigates the representation of clothing in textbooks on Polish and Swedish as foreign languages. Clothing, as a social convention, is one of the aspects of sociocultural knowledge that is crucial for using the language appropriately when interacting with native speakers. The clothing depicted in the illustrations in A1 and A2 level textbooks, designed for students with no prior knowledge of the language, is analyzed. The analysis encompassed clothing worn in professional, public, and private spheres. Many similarities are observed between the clothing of Polish and Swedish inhabitants, suggesting that these countries share a similar dress culture. Both countries exhibit comparable dress conventions, especially in the workplace and public sphere, although women in office settings tend to dress less formally than men. The textbooks indicate that Poland is characterized by a considerable freedom in public dress, while maintaining a high level of formality in private settings. Conversely, Sweden is more formal in public but exhibits greater freedom in private settings. Additionally, in Poland, women tend to wear more traditional women’s clothing along with a variety of accessories, whereas in Sweden, men are more inclined to wear accessories than in Poland.