Range of Silesian language on map of East-Central Europe (marked as G1, G2)

Distribution

Silesian speakers currently live in the region of Upper Silesia, which is split between southwestern Poland and the northeastern Czech Republic. At present Silesian is commonly spoken in the area between historical border of Silesia on the east, and a line from Syców to Prudnik on the west, as well as in the Rawicz area. Until 1945 Silesian was also spoken in enclaves in Lower Silesia, as Lower Silesian language was spoken by the ethnic German majority populace of that region at the time.

According to the last official census in Poland (2002), about 60,000 people declared Silesian as their native tongue, and over 173,000 people declared Silesian nationality^[2]. However, the total number of Silesian speakers exceeds two million. There are also about 100,000 Silesian (Cieszyn Silesian) speakers living in the Czech Republic; Cieszyn Silesian is also commonly spoken in the Polish part of Cieszyn Silesia. Speakers of Cieszyn Silesian dialect usually identify themselves on the nationality level as Poles^[3]. According to the last official census in Czech Republic, 10,878 people in declared Silesian nationality.

The recognition of Silesian

In 2003, the National Publishing Company of Silesia (Narodowa Oficyna ?l?ska) commenced its operations^[4]. This publisher was started by the Alliance of People of the Silesian Nation (Zwi?zek Ludno?ci Narodowo?ci ?l?skiej) and it prints books about Silesia and books in Silesian language.

In July 2007, the Silesian language was recognized by an ISO Joint Advisory Committee^[5], Library of Congress^[6][7][8], International Information Centre for Terminology and SIL International. Language was attributed ISO code: SZL^[9][10].

On 6 September 2007, 23 politicians of the Polish parliament notified about a project of a new law to give the Silesian language the official status of a regional language^[11].

The first official National Dictation contest of the Silesian language (Ogólnopolskie Dyktando J?zyka ?l?skiego) took place in August 2007^[12].

On 30 January 2008 and in June 2008, two organizations promoting Silesian language were started: Pro Loquela Silesiana and "Tôwarzistwo Piastowaniô ?lónskij Môwy "Danga"^[13].

On 26 May 2008, Silesian Wikipedia was officially started^[14].

On 30 June 2008, in the edifice of the Silesian Parliament in Katowice, a conference took place on the status of Silesian language. This conference was a forum for politicians, linguists, representatives of interested organizations, and persons who deal with the Silesian language. The conference was titled "Silesian - a dialect or however already a language?" ("?l?sko godka - jeszcze gwara czy jednak ju? j?zyk"?)^[15].

Example

"Our Father" in Silesian, Polish and Czech.

Silesian

Uoj?e na?, kery je?e? w ?ybje,

byd? po?wjync?ne mjano Twoje.

P?i?d? kr?lestwo Twoje,

byd? wola Twoja,

jako we ?ybje, tak ty? na ?ymji.

Chlyb na? ka?dod?ynny dej n?m d?i?ej.

A uodpu?? n?m na?e winy,

kej a my uodpu???my na?ym wi??ik?m.

A ?y w?d? nos na poku?y?y,

nale zbow nos uode zuygo.

Amyn.

Polish

Ojcze nasz, który? jest w niebie,

?wi?? si? imi? Twoje,

przyjd? królestwo Twoje,

b?d? wola Twoja jako w niebie tak i na ziemi.

Chleba naszego powszedniego daj nam dzisiaj.

I odpu?? nam nasze winy,

jak i my odpuszczamy naszym winowajcom.

I nie wód? nas na pokuszenie,

ale zbaw nas ode z?ego. Amen.

Czech

Ot?e ná?, jen? jsi na nebesích,

posv?? se jméno Tvé

P?ij? království Tvé.

Bu? v?le Tvá, jako v nebi, tak i na zemi.

Chléb ná? vezdej?í dej nám dnes

A odpus? nám na?e viny,

jako i my odpou?tíme na?ím viník?m

a neuve? nás v poku?ení,

ale zbav nás od zlého. Amen.

Dialects of Silesian language

Grave inscription at Lutheran cemetery in St?íte? (Frýdek-Místek District) near ?eský T??ín. The inscription, which say "Rest in Peace", is in Cieszyn Silesian Dialect.

• Cieszyn Silesian dialect
• Niemodlin Silesian dialect
• Gliwice Silesian dialect
• Jab?onków Silesian dialect
• Kluczbork Silesian dialect
• Prudnik Silesian dialect
• Opole Silesian dialect
• Lach Silesian dialect

Dialect vs language

Opinions are divided between Polish linguists as to whether Silesian is a distinct language or another dialect of Polish. The issue can be contentious since some Silesians consider themselves to be a nationality within Poland. Linguists from Poland - example: Jan Niecis?aw Baudouin de Courtenay (19th-20th century)^[16] Jolanta Tambor^[17], Tomasz Wicherkiewicz^[18], Tomasz Kamusella^[19][20] supports the status of language.

International linguists - example: germanys Reinhold Olesch^[21][22], germanys Gerd Hentschel, american Ewald Osers (1949)^[23][24], american Norman Davies^[25], czech Óndra ?ysohorsky also supports the status of language or they define as one of Slavic languages.

Culture

The Silesian language has recently seen an increased use in culture, for example:

• TV and radio stations (for example, TV Silesia, Slonsky Radio^[26], Radio Piekary^[27]);
• music groups (for example, Hasiok, Dohtor Miód, FEET);
• theatre ^[28] (for example, "Polterabend" in Silesian Theatre^[29]

''www.teatrslaski.art.pl'' (Silesian Theatre));

• film (for example, ?wi?ta Wojna (Holly War), Grzeszny ?ywot Franciszka Bu?y (Sinful Life of Franciszek Bu?a));
• books (for example, Silesian Bible).

See also

• Silesian alphabet
• Lower Silesian language
• Wymysorys
• Silesiana

References

External links

• ''P? na?ymu''
• ''Slonsko Lauba''
• ''Slunskoeka''

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