Archiwalne akta miejskie jako źródło badań historycznojęzykowych
City archives as a source in historic-linguistic research

Summary/Abstract: The article examines the possibility of researching the Upper Silesia region city archives ranging from the 16th to the 18th century. Some of the sources have already been analysed from the historical and linguistic perspective; however, current developments in style and discourse analysis offer new interpretative vistas. So far, city archives have been treated as texts representing the language of official documents, whose major characteristics are the use of schematic syntax, templates, and specialised terminology. Including such sources in the study of legal discourse allows for a broader range of interpretations. These could go beyond formal textual indicators and form a basis for recreating the worldview and value system in past urban communities. City archives, in particular court records, may be used for recreating the everyday language people spoke centuries ago.

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