Silesian language
West Slavic ethnolect / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Silesian,[lower-alpha 1] occasionally called Upper Silesian, is an ethnolect[4][5] of the Lechitic group spoken by part of people in Upper Silesia. Its vocabulary was significantly influenced by Central German due to the existence of numerous Silesian German speakers in the area prior to World War II and after.[6] The first mentions of Silesian as a distinct lect date back to the 16th century, and the first literature with Silesian characteristics to the 17th century.[7]
Silesian | |
---|---|
Upper Silesian | |
ślōnskŏ gŏdka ślůnsko godka[1] | |
Pronunciation | [ˈɕlonskɔ ˈɡɔtka] |
Native to | Poland (Silesian Voivodeship, Opole Voivodeship) Czech Republic (Moravia–Silesia, Jeseník) |
Region | Silesia |
Ethnicity | Silesians |
Native speakers | 457,900 (2021 census)[2] |
Dialects | |
Latin script (Steuer's alphabet and ślabikŏrzowy szrajbōnek)[3] | |
Language codes | |
ISO 639-3 | szl |
Glottolog | sile1253 |
ELP | Upper Silesian |
Linguasphere |
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Linguistic distinctiveness of Silesian has long been a topic of discussion among linguists.[8] Some regard it as one of the four major dialects of Polish,[9][10][11][12] while others classify it as a separate regional language, distinct from Polish.[13][14][15] According to the official data from the 2021 Polish census, about 500 thousand people consider Silesian as their native language.[2]
In April 2024, the Polish Sejm took a significant step by approving a bill that recognizes Silesian as an official regional language in Poland.[8] This recognition, if accepted by the Senate and signed by the president, will allow for the inclusion of Silesian in school curricula and its use within local administration in municipalities.[8]