About the Silesian godka and the Kashubian Language in lectures at the College for Interdisciplinary Studies
The BEYOND LANGUAGE course conducted in the College for Interdisciplinary Studies (KMSI) of the University of Wrocław in collaboration with the Faculty of Letters of the University of Wrocław and the Committee for Philology of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Wrocław Branch. The integral part of the course are guest presentations by scientists conducting their own research and representing various research disciplines and different areas of knowledge. The lectures are open to the public, everyone interested is welcome.
Announcements of events organized by the College for Interdisciplinary Studies can be found on this site
LECTURE REPORT: The Linguistic picture of Silesia with prof. Wojciech Soliński from April 11 2024 by Kacper Gawron, first-year KMSI student.
During the April meeting of the BEYOND LANGUAGE series (April 11, 2024) the students of the College for Interdisciplinary Studies had the chance to take a look at the topic of regionalisms which occur in our country. The Deliberations of professor Wojciech Soliński from the Faculty of Letters of the University of Wrocław mainly focused the listeners attention on the phenomenon of the silesian language, which is regularly requested by minority groups to be added to the school curriculum.
The lecture began with the subject of books which describe life in the Silesian region throughout the ages, allowing the reader to acquaint themselves with the history of the region and the culture of the inhabitants of the region. Unfortunately, at this point, a problem of topographical nature makes itself known. As it turns out, the historical location of Silesia depends on the adopted perspective. Wrocław, for example, would of course be part of Silesia for people from central or eastern Poland, but for residents of Pyskowice, Bytom or Zabrze, the answer would not be so clear.
The full report of the interview by Kacper Gawron, first-year KMSI student can be read here: https://kmsi.uwr.edu.pl/2024/04/19/z-cyklu-beyond-language-o-jezyku-slaskim-wyklad-pana-profesora-wojciech-solinskiego/
Professor Wojciech Soliński talked with Monika Piechota about gorole and Silesians, about identity, borders, assimilation, migrations, putting down roots and the love for the Silesian speech, about translations, poets and the silesian godka (May 9, 2024)
LECTURE REPORT: „Through the ears and eyes of an outside observer”: Kashubian language and culture 2004 – 2024 with dr Marcin R. Odelski on May 9, 2024 by Julia Wojtas, a first-year KMSI student.
“Each Thursday is an opportunity for the students of the College for Interdisciplinary Studies of the University of Wrocław for an exciting meeting within the Beyond Language series. This time, the author of the lecture was dr Marcin R. Odelski – researcher of Kashubian culture and language, member of the Committee for Philology of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Wrocław Branch, and, in his own words, “an outside observer of Kashubia.” His interest in this land, culture and language is not based on his background, but on passion.
Kashubian greeting
Dobri dzéń! As an introduction, dr Odelski greeted everyone in the Kashubian language as to introduce the listeners into the right “Kashubian” mood. Then, he defined the territorial reach of the modern Kashubian region, mentioning towns such as Kartuzy or Sierakowice, of which residents use the Kashubian language in day-to-day life.
The status of the Kashubian language
The legal status of the Kashubian language is regulated by the act of January 6, 2005 on ethnic minorities and regional language, defining it as a regional language. Throughout the decades the Kashubian language was not regarded as a separate language, but only as a dialect of the polish language. The written form of the Kashubian language in use today is evolved from the form proposed in 1879 by Florian Ceynowa in “Zarés do Grammatikj Kašébsko-Słovjnskjè Mòvé,” published in 1879 in Poznań.
Humor “in Kashubian”
The lecture did not lack Kashubian humor. Assumedly, most of us have heard the song “Ona tańczy dla mnie” – the hit disco polo song from 2012. However, not everyone has had the opportunity to hear the hit song “in Kashubian.”
The full report of the interview by Julia Wojtas, a first-year KMSI STUDENT can be read here.
Translated by Kacper Piotrowski (student of English Studies at the University of Wrocław) as part of the translation practice.
