Streszczenie
In the article the units with the components ‘heart’ and ‘soul’, derived from both the general
literary language as well as its dialect variations have been analyzed. The article depicts a variety
of images connected with the abovementioned units. It turns out, for example, that these words are
frequently used while describing human beings and take active part in defining interpersonal
relations. Both ‘heart’ and ‘soul’ develop individual semantic potential. However, in the light of
Russian idioms they also have many common features. The conclusion of the article may be the
statement that images being created by them proves not only their semantic potential and
pragmatic flexibility. It constitutes evidence for the significance of ‘heart’ and ‘soul’ in the
Russian life and the way of perceiving and conceiving many fundamental notions that are thought
of through the language units in question.