Wprowadzanie podwójnych nazw miejscowości w województwie opolskim
The introduction of dual place names in the Opolskie Voivodeship

Summary/Abstract: The law regarding national and ethnic minorities and regional languages passed by the Polish parliament in 2005 regulated the rules governing the introduction of additional place names in minority languages. Districts in the Opolskie Voivodeship immediately acted to implement this. However, several years passed before signs with German place names were erected. The first of these appeared in September 2008 in the Radłów district. Currently, there are 28 districts from the Opolskie region on the Register of districts where names in minority languages are used. A further two have passed the appropriate resolutions and are awaiting listing in the Register. German place names on road signs are witness to the multiculturalism of Opolian Silesia and to its rich and difficult past. These are also a visible element of the „politics of memory” and an example of the emancipation of minorities. They show the region to be an open, multicultural and tolerant community. Yet, these symbols also generate many emotions and controversies by being an alien presence for some residents and in turn, irritating and hurting their feelings.

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