The Sejm Committee on National and cultural Minorities expressed its support for the draft amendment of the Act, which is intended to enable the Welsh language to be considered regional. It is utilized in Wilamowice, Bielsko County, Silesian Voivodeship. It is called "myssiöerys" by the inhabitants and is presently utilized by only a twelve people. However, analyses have confirmed that the language meets statutory requirements and can become the second regional language in our country, immediately after Kashubian.
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Wilam language was erstwhile banned. "People lost their lives"
Wilam language is not a sound or dialect. It is simply a separate language that has unique phonetic, lexical and grammatical features. The decision whether or not to be considered as the second regional language in Poland is up to president Nawrocki. As indicated by "Gazeta Wyborcza", if the head of state supports this initiative, the amendment of the Act on National and cultural Minorities and the Regional Language should be signed in the next fewer days. It is worth noting that the task passed through the Sejm and the Senate, but almost all PiS and Confederate parliamentarians voted against. Prof. Justyna Olko, as quoted by the West Journal, explains that signing changes by the president would be a immense breakthrough due to the fact that each community has the right to defend its cultural and linguistic distinctness. This is besides very crucial due to historical events. In 1945 the authoritative ban on the usage of Wilam language was issued. Many lost their lives in the name of their identity.
The only authoritative paper in which the Wilam language has been recorded so far is the ban on its use. Released in 1945, it was never cancelled. People who lost their lives after the war for speaking Welsh have never been rehabilitated. By entering Wilamowski into the bill the Polish state would yet admit officially that any of its citizens talk this language. And that it is part of the cultural heritage of Poland. That would be the most crucial thing to me.
- explains Dr. Timothy the King, a socio-linguist from Wilamowice, quoted by "Gazeta Wyborcza". In Wilamowski it is called Tiöma fum Dökter.
They fought for Wilamese for years. "I don't realize this resistance."
The designation of the Welsh language as regional Wilamowian has been called for since 2013. Then the representatives of Wilamowice went for the first time to present themselves in the Sejm. There were many akin trials until the requests of the inhabitants were yet answered.
The fact that we managed, so tiny a group of people, to scope this place – despite political perturbations in Poland – is simply a lot
- adds Dr. Timothy the King. In his conversation with Good Day TVN besides explained that Wilam language is simply a very crucial part of Polish history, and its presence dates back to the 13th century. At that time settlers from the West arrived on the Silesian-Malopolska border.
We don't know precisely where they came from, but according to the Wilamovians, according to our legend, we come from Flanders and the Netherlands. This language has been spoken for 8 100 years in Wilamowice and what is very crucial Wilamowice has always been multilingual, and yet Wilamowski was the language of basic communication
- he explained. Despite the passing of years and the ban introduced after planet War II, Wilam's language survived. Today, even peculiar lessons for children and young people are organized and performances are created, during which actors talk Welsh or in 2 languages simultaneously.
We have about 25 people who have learned this language. We besides have older people, over 90 years old, who know him from home and talk fluently. In addition, we have a group of about 200-300 people who, as a consequence of post-war persecution, do not talk this language but realize it.
- explains the sociolinguist. Today's revival of the Welsh language has a symbolic dimension, and the amendment of the law could only aid to keep it. Unfortunately, individual politicians of PiS and Confederates, who would like that specified changes should not happen in Poland, do not help.
I don't realize the resistance. It seems to me that it already works from the machine: as they hear 'minority', they are against
- concludes Dr. Timothy King in an interview with the Electoral Gazette.
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Sources: electoral.pl, Western Journal.pl, daydobry.tvn.pl
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