The Polish Language Act: Legislating a Complicated Linguistic-Political Landscape

Looks at the complex political and linguistic landscape in which the Act on the Polish Language was drafted and legislated. It also attempts to place it in the very particular historical context of partitions and foreign occupation that made Polish a forbidden language “whose protection became a sacred patriotic duty for several generations of Poles.” This protectionist attitude is reexamined in the context of European Union integration and the political and social challenges faced by Poland today. The controversy surrounding the Act is also discussed. The chapter also clarifies certain terms central to the book’s subject matter, such as standard language, national language and official language (Relevant Concepts section).