The Polish Language
People who are learning to speak Polish complain about its complex nature; however it is rewarding to learn such a language due to its origin from an ancient language, such as Latin. Polish is the second most widely spoken Slavic language and its alphabet has several addition
s to the basic Latin script.
Over 40 million people are native speakers of Polish, indulging in the variations of the Latin alphabet such as the removal of Q, V and X. Polish is not just a product of Latin, it also borrows words from others. Polish borrows from English – komputer (computer) korupcja (corruption) to name a few.
How the Polish Language Developed
In the second half of the 20th century, Polish became a far more homogeneous language – meaning it became more alike to the languages around it. This was due to the mass migration of the Polish citizens from the eastern to the western parts of the country, after World War II. This caused a slight problem when it came to understanding one another. People who had Polish as their first language did not find it difficult to understand the different dialects that the non-native speakers used. However, it caused difficulty on the other side due to the dialects being compared to English.
The language floats around Poland like the snow in winter but clings to different residents. The older generation, for example, speak different from the young. The older generation would have Russian as their second language – this is due to the Iron curtain falling at the end of the 1980s. Youths in Poland, however, usually have English as their second language – this being because of the movement away from Russia in the 1990s. Due to English being the most used language in the world and the want for English in cultural and business circles, this tool is used to the advantage of the youths of Poland, as it is easier to migrate to other nations to work.
Polish does not just lend words from other languages; it is a powerful language within the Slavic region and has influenced languages such as German with their choice of words. Words such as pierogi (Polish dumplings) or paczki (Polish donuts) have spread internationally.
As mentioned 40 million people are native speakers of Polish and enjoy the relationship the language has with others. Although there is a divide in age, the divide is very small and the language remains wholesome and connects its residents. Polish is a beautiful and interesting language, chronicling a great history, relating to Latin and other Slavic unions. The language speaks in many forms, being different and unique. As the Polish proverb says co kraj to obyczaj, translating to each country has its own tradition.
