The emergence of stereotypes and stereotypization in different types of texts (primarily in folklore, but also in poetic and other types of texts) has been discussed in linguistics in our times.

The terms STEREOTYPE, PROTOTYPE, PROFILING entered linguistics when related to the development of grammar, text and cognitive semantics – over the course of the last 20 – 30 years.

The problem is very wide and of interest to authors who represent the theory of text using folklore material and achievements of cognitivism, primarily the concept of prototype by Eleonora Rosh and the reconstruction of the linguistic world view.

The functioning of stereotypes and stereotypisation in natural languages is not new since it is very frequently discussed in everyday communication. Thus, most often we speak about stereotypes of peoples, nations, ethnical groups, citizens of certain regions, cities and the like. For example, Warszawianin (Varsovian) – is a man who doesn't work much, but who will always manage, be a braggart and a capable man…, Krakowianin (– from Cracov) – is a brave, merry, stingy, conservative and prideful man. In the stereotype of a Polish man there are three basic features: patriotism, bravery and hospitality. A French man is elegant and delicate for the Polish people. A Polish man is pathetic for the Czechs, and a nationalist for the German people. The German is a foreigner with whom the Polish cannot communicate – a mute man.

In general, given the language of human behaviuor, as a means of communication, stereotypes are negatively valuated as dangerous for normal understanding between people. However, it is clear for linguists that stereotypes are consistant elements of the language related to its essence. Therefore, stereotypisation does not only concern people and nations but also includes societal situations, human behavior, elements of the closest human surroundings, objects of nature, animals and plants, and elements of space, related to the categorisation of reality (scientific and common). The effect of the first is produced by the notions, and stereotypes are a result of the second. Another important mark of this distinction is the fact that notions are dominated by an intellectual element, and stereotypes are dominated by an emotional element.