Język śląski - problem terminologiczny czy społeczny?

Abstract

A discussion about the "Silesian language" that has recently become more intense is the effect of the Act on National and Ethnic Minorities and on Regional Language adopted by Sejm in 2005, on the basis of which Kashubian language was granted a status of regional language. This fact has aroused Silesian community, which has long been fighting for distinguishing their own cultural identity and increasing the prestige of Silesian dialect that is in common use there. On the one hand, the Silesians' aspirations for statutory recognition of Silesian language as a regional one have manifested themselves in actions aiming at its linguistic standardization in the scope of grammar and spelling. Whereas on the other hand, they have been seen in political initiatives undertaken by Silesian social activists and members of Parliament. As far as a scientific discussion is concerned, apart from a traditional point of view recognizing Silesian as another dialect of Polish, there appear more and more postulates for replacing linguistic categories of a "language" and "dialect" with a new understanding of the language as it is already functioning in social awareness. In consequence, "Silesian language" should be statutorily recognized, which, in tum, should hasten works on its standardization. Regardless of theoretical opinions and political decisions, "Silesian language" is only just developing grammar and spelling standards, which may occur thanks to integrated actions aimed at creating norms and through regional writing enhancement. Silesian's prestige will only be increased when it becomes a language of literature and goes beyond a barrier of colloquiality thus increasing a scope of its use to include official situations as well.