Językowe środki deprecjacji przeciwnika w debatach telewizyjnych między liderami partyjnymi

The article raises the issue of rhetoric means used in Polish parliamentary campaigns, exemplified by the 2007 campaign. However only an extract of such electoral activities was taken into consideration, namely the televised debates between the party leaders. The basis of the analysis consists of three debates broadcasted in Polish Television between: Donald Tusk and Jarosław Kaczyński (12th October 2007), Donald Tusk and Aleksander Kwaśniewski (15th October 2007), Jarosław Kaczyński and Aleksander Kwaśniewski (7th October 2007). The author focused on the language operations carried out in order to depreciate the opponent in the context of the situation created by media debate. The most common acts of depreciation – both overt and concealable in many ways – their action mechanisms, as well as the defence methods against them were analyzled in the article.