Historia i sytuacja języka łemkowskiego w ostatnim stuleciu
The history and situation of the Lemko language in the past century

Summary/Abstract: The aim of this paper is to briefly present the situation of the Lemko language from the historical perspective covering one hundred years of its development. The creation of Lemkos’ linguistic awareness and identity before their displacements (1945–1947) has been clearly reflected in literature. It provides the foundation for reconstructing the main emancipatory identity line developed based on “our language”, equivalent to the local speech, followed by the Lemko intelligentsia, while confronting the social and political considerations of their native area. A drastic effect of the considerations was displacements, destruction of culture, and lack of conditions for fostering language. The recovery of language rights after 1989 has initiated a range of internal revitalisation processes and strategies supported also institutionally. They are, however, not able to stop the mass destructive processes resulting in the Lemko language being currently among the endangered ones.

• Details
• Contents