Monoparentality, multi-family and reconstructed family Contemporary names of models of family life

Abstract

The article presents new Polish vocabulary concerning the names of models of familylife (inter alia multifamily, monoparental, monorail, visiting, nomadic, gay, reconstructed, patchwork, DINKS, LAT), functioning in contemporary public discourse (non-specialist). In the background – after recalling the definition of the word family and reference to use in law – there are considerations about extending the meaning of the word and naming it non-traditional forms of family-marriage life. The text also drew attention to the process of re-evaluating certain expressions, such as the large family, and departing from terms that had negative connotations, such as family, incomplete, broken family, single parenting, for neutered connections, for example, multi-family reconstructed, monoparent. Such treatments are also seen in the names referring to other groups, such as the elderly (seniors, nestors) or single (single), and partly due to the fight against discrimination (political correctness), and in part from the intensification of demographic processes themselves (aging, changes in life patterns, increasing divorce and various informal relationships).