Worldviews undoubtedly influence the shape and reception of utterances. The examination of
causes and consequences of this phenomenon requires taking into account the context in which an
utterance is formed and in which worldview beliefs function. In order to describe the cultural
and cognitive conditioning of the utterance it is therefore necessary to employ an
interdisciplinary approach. In addition to literary and linguistic standpoints it is important
to take into account the anthropological perspective and the evolutionary development of human
cognitive abilities.The authors of the articles collected in this book aim to present how the
utterance is embedded in the worldview of its author and his audience. The articles address
various aspects of the relationship between worldview beliefs with narrative and non-narrative
forms in various geographical areas and historical periods. They discuss the issues of
differences in worldviews and their impact on the functioning of utterances and also
concentrate on the processes of cultural change evoking structural transformations on the
worldview-utterance axis. The adopted research perspective stresses the difference between the
conditions of worldview transmission in oral and written culture in the latter one the
intentions of the author of an utterance being more clearly marked. The use of words and images
to transmit worldview beliefs is thus subjected to a multifaceted analysis carried out with the
combined tools of cognitive science cultural anthropology linguistics and literary studies.
