Language Kashubians

in 2011 population census 108,100 people declared kashubian language.

the classification of kashubian language or dialect has been controversial. diachronic point of view of historical linguistics, kashubian, slovincian, polabian , polish, lechitic west slavic language, while synchronic point of view group of polish dialects. given past nationalist interests of germans , poles in kashubia, barbour , carmichel state: case division of dialect continuum separate languages, there scope here manipulation.

a standard kashubian language not exist despite attempts create one, rather variety of dialects spoken differ each other. vocabulary influenced both german , polish.

there other traditional slavic ethnic groups inhabiting pomerania, including kociewiacy, borowiacy , krajniacy. these dialects tend fall between kashubian , polish dialects of greater poland , mazovia, krajniak dialect indeed heavily influenced kashubian, while borowiak , kociewiak dialects more closer greater polish , mazovian. no obvious kashubian substrate or other influence visible in kociewiak dialect. indicates not descendants of pomeranians, of settlers arrived in pomerania greater poland , masovia during middle ages, 10th century onwards.

in 16th , 17th century michael brüggemann (also known pontanus or michał mostnik), simon krofey (szimon krofej) , j.m. sporgius introduced kashubian lutheran church. krofey, pastor in bütow (bytow), published religious song book in 1586, written in polish containing kashubian words. brüggemann, pastor in schmolsin, published polish translation of works of martin luther (catechism) , biblical texts, containing kashubian elements. other biblical texts published in 1700 sporgius, pastor in schmolsin. schmolsiner perikopen, of written in same polish-kashubian style krofey s , brüggemann s books, contain small passages ( 6th sunday after epiphany ) written in pure kashubian. scientific interest in kashubian language sparked christoph mrongovius (publications in 1823, 1828), florian ceynowa , russian linguist aleksander hilferding (1859, 1862), later followed leon biskupski (1883, 1891), gotthelf bronisch (1896, 1898), jooseppi julius mikkola (1897), kazimierz nitsch (1903). important works s. ramult s, słownik jezyka pomorskiego, czyli kaszubskiego, 1893, , friedrich lorentz, slovinzische grammatik, 1903, slovinzische texte, 1905, , slovinzisches wörterbuch, 1908. zdzisław stieber involved in producing linguistic atlases of kashubian (1964–78).

the first activist of kashubian national movement florian ceynowa. among accomplishments, documented kashubian alphabet , grammar 1879 , published collection of ethnographic-historic stories of life of kashubians (skórb kaszébsko-slovjnckjé mòvé, 1866–1868). writer in kashubian hieronim derdowski. young kashubian movement followed, led author aleksander majkowski, wrote paper zrzësz kaszëbskô part of zrzëszincë group. group contribute development of kashubian literary language. important writer in kashubian bernard sychta (1907–1982).

cultural traditions

pussy willows appear have been adopted alternative palm leaves used elsewhere in easter celebrations, not obtainable in kashubia. blessed priests on palm sunday, following parishioners whipped each other pussy willow branches, saying wierzba bije, jô nie bijã. za tidzéń wiôldżi dzéń, za nocë trzë trzë są jastrë ( willow strikes, s not me strikes, in week, on great day, in 3 , 3 nights, there easter ).

the blessed priests pussy willows treated sacred charms prevent lightning strikes, protect animals , encourage honey production. believed bring health , fortune people well, , traditional 1 pussy willow bud swallowed on palm sunday promote health.

according old tradition, on easter monday kashub boys chase girls whipping gently legs juniper twigs. bring fortune in love chased girls. accompanied boy s chant dyngus, dyngus - pò dwa jaja, nie chcã chleba, leno jaja ( dyngus, dyngus, 2 eggs; don t want bread eggs ). girl whipped when still in bed. girls give boys painted eggs.

pottery, 1 of ancient kashubians crafts, has survived present day. famous kashubian embroidery , kashubian embroidering zukowo school important intangible cultural heritage.

the pope’s john paul ii visit in june 1987, during appealed kashubes preserve traditional values including language, important[1].

today

polish-canadians wearing traditional kashubian costumes in wilno, ontario, oldest polish settlement in canada.

in 2005, kashubian first time made official subject on polish matura exam (roughly equivalent english a-level , french baccalaureat). despite initial uptake of 23 students, development seen important step in official recognition , establishment of language. today, in towns , villages in northern poland, kashubian second language spoken after polish, , taught in regional schools.

since 2005 kashubian enjoys legal protection in poland official regional language. tongue in poland status. granted act of polish parliament on january 6, 2005. old kashubian culture has partially survived in architecture , folk crafts such pottery, plaiting, embroidery, amber-working, sculpturing , glasspainting.

in 2011 census, 233,000 people in poland declared identity kashubian, 216,000 declaring polish , 16,000 national-ethnic identity. kaszëbskô jednota association of people have latter view.