Фрагментация полабско-поморского языкового континуума
Fragmentation of the Polabian-Pomeranian Language Continuum

Summary/Abstract: This study tries to reconstruct the evolution of the dialectal fragmentation of the Polabian- -Pomeranian area from its separation from the Western Slavonic until the destruction of the local language continuum. The difficulty of this task consists in the limitation of the sources, which comprise the onomastic data and the reconstruction of early phases of the languages preserved until the Modern Age (New Drawehn Polabian, Kashubian). In the first part, the study discusses the presence of the common Western Lekhitic features in all Polabian-Pomeranian regions and in the neighbour areas (Sorbian, Polish). The second part is introduced by the overview of various concepts of dialectal division of the area and further, the article treats single phenomena and innovations per zone concerned (East – Pomeranian, West – Polabian, South – Polabian-Sorbian transition zone). In the final part, we try to describe the process of the dialectal fragmentation of the whole area in the chronological order. This shows the Polabian- -Pomeranian area as a field of various tendencies originated mostly in the Western or Eastern peripheries. The Western one is characterized by an early political separation, while the Eastern one represents a bridge towards the Eastern Lekhitic (Polish) area. The central Polabian-Pomeranian dialects seem to accept many of these innovations just as inconsistent tendencies; the Southern zone seems to be the most passive, even if it probably absorbed, rather as an echo, few Old Sorbian tendencies. The study also clearly shows that there is still much to be clarified in the history of the Polabian-Pomeranian area and tries to map the lacunas in our knowledge.

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