Poland's parliament has passed legislation to officially recognize Silesian as a regional language.
The majority government in parliament has passed a law recognizing Silesian as an official regional language, spoken in the historical area of Silesia in southwest Poland. However, right-wing opposition parties opposed the legislation, arguing that Silesian is a dialect of Polish rather than a distinct language. In the latest national census, approximately 460,000 people in Poland reported using Silesian as their main language at home, far more than the 87,600 who speak Kashubian, the country’s only other recognized regional language. Official recognition allows a language to be taught in schools and used in local administration in municipalities where at least 20% of the population speaks it. The bill was supported by MPs from the ruling coalition parties and now moves to the Senate for further consideration. Supporters of the bill view it as a victory for grassroots efforts in Silesia, emphasizing the value of minority languages, while opponents accuse them of creating a false narrative.
He stated that opposition on the right is not directed against the Silesian region or its people but rather stems from a commitment to uphold the law and exercise common sense. He pointed out that expert opinions presented during discussions supported the view that linguists oppose the proposed changes. Similarly, Roman Fritz from the Confederation asserted that Silesian has traditionally been regarded as a dialect of the Polish language by the majority of Polish linguists, noting that it shares no significant grammatical distinctions not found in neighboring regions like Małopolska and Wielkopolska.
The bill to officially recognize Silesian as a regional language was introduced to parliament in January by MPs from KO. This initiative was among the 100 policies promised by KO prior to the October elections. The state budget for 2024, approved by the KO-led government, already allocates 2 million zloty for programs aimed at teaching the Silesian language.
Proponents of the bill argue that Silesian has undergone significant development in recent years, with efforts made to codify the language and develop its literary form. They cite examples such as Silesian translations of literary works like The Hobbit and The Little Prince. However, there has been ongoing debate over whether Silesian should be considered a separate language or simply a dialect of Polish. Linguists often classify it as an "ethnolect," referring to a variety of language associated with a particular ethnic group.
When questioned about the prospect of Silesian being officially recognized as a language, renowned Polish linguist Jan Miodek dismissed the idea, labeling it as "nonsense" and "naivety combined with fanaticism."