The book contains a selection of papers focusing on the idea of crossing boundaries in literary and cultural texts composed in English. The authors come from different methodological schools and analyse texts coming from different periods and cultures, trying to find common ground (the theme of the volume) between the apparently generically and temporarily varied works and phenomena. In this way, a plethora of perspectives is offered, perspectives which represent a high standard both in terms of theoretical reflection and in-depth analysis of selected texts. Consequently, the volume is addressed to a wide scope of both scholars and students working in the field of English and American literary and cultural studies; furthermore, it will be of interest also to students interested in theoretical issues linked with investigations into literature and culture.

En el libro, con base en las teorias y clasificaciones provenientes de los estudios de la antropologia junto con las propuestas del seno de la linguistica, la autora introduce el concepto de ritualismo linguistico. Los ritualismos linguisticos son unidades que acompanan a numerosos ritos seculares, no relacionados con la vida sacra, desempenando una serie de funciones a nivel interpersonal y comunicativo. Tras explicar el modelo de analisis y la tipologia, la autora lleva a cabo un analisis contrastivo de los ritualismos que aparecen en dos lenguas: el espanol y el polaco. Las semejanzas y las diferencias constituyen el fundamento para la reflexion no solo sobre las caracteristicas linguisticas, sino tambien acerca de las nociones socioculturales que destacan en las comunidades estudiadas.