Silesian Language - Dialect Vs Language

Dialect Vs Language

Opinions are divided between linguists about whether Silesian is a distinct language or simply a dialect of Polish. The issue can be contentious, as some Silesians consider themselves to be a nationality within Poland. Some linguists from Poland, such as; Jan Baudouin de Courtenay (19th–20th century) Jolanta Tambor, Tomasz Wicherkiewicz and sociolinguist Tomasz Kamusella support its status as a language, some others do not, such as Jan Miodek and Edward Polański. However, according to linguistics studies and history of Silesia region, it is impossible to classify Silesian as a dialect of the contemporary Polish language; rather it is descended from the Old Polish language.

International linguists and other scholars such as Reinhold Olesch from Germany, Norman Davies from the United Kingdom also support the status of Silesian as a Slavic language.

Encyclopædia Britannica defines it as a dialect of Polish. However, Lach dialects are considered part of the Czech language.

Czech Óndra Łysohorsky and his translator Ewald Osers (1949), were interested in Lach dialects.

Gerd Hentschel wrote "Das Schlesische ... kann somit ... ohne Zweifel als Dialekt des Polnischen beschrieben werden" ("Silesian ... can thus ... without doubt be described as a dialect of Polish"). but, in a later scientific work - in his book Das Schlesische — eine neue (oder auch nicht neue) slavische Sprache (Silesian — a new (or not new) Slavic language?) he concludes that it's a language.