Language Planning Activities and Policy – the Case of Poland

Abstract

ABSTRACT. The paper examines the way and the extent to which language policies have affected the development of the Polish language especially in recent times, since the so-called end of the communist era. The discussion revolves round the Polish Language Act of 1999 which set the rules appropriate to 'protecting' Polish from 'foreign influences' (English in particular). Subject to examination is the Act's origins, the government's motives for it, as well as amendments the Act has undergone since it was first promulgated in 1999 and the justifications for them. Finally, the paper addresses various practical implications stemming from the Act and manifested in a number of more or less spectacular actions taken by the competent bodies and authorities in order to protect the Polish language.

The Englishization of Higher Education in Europe

“…The Polish language policy relates to the protection of the Polish language as the first language of 98% of the Polish population, the policy towards minority languages or dialects, and finally the policy of promoting the study of other languages. The origin of Polish language policy goes back to the 14th century, and thus prior to its recognition as a fully-fledged academic field of research (see Kuźniak & Mańczak-Wohlfeld, 2016, who discuss a historical overview of Polish language policy). It is evident that in the history of the development of Polish, it has been influenced by a number of different languages including Latin, Greek, Czech, French, German, Italian, and Russian (to name but a few), and more recently English.…”

“…The practical implications of the Act on the Polish language are naturally manifold and have been discussed in terms of actions undertaken both by governmental and non-governmental organizations and by individuals empowered with relevant prerogatives under the Act in question (Kuźniak & Mańczak-Wohlfeld, 2016).…”

Linguistica Silesiana

“…According to Article 10, par. 1 of the Polish Language Act of October 7th 1999, offi cial names of state infrastructure shall be given priority over other renderings (see Kuźniak and Mańczak-Wohlfeld, 2016).The problem with the airport name was that it gave priority to the English version. Additionally, in the course of a heated debate over the issue, the problem cropped up whether Wałęsa shall be rendered as Walesa in English or in original diacritized forms.…”