Selected Grammatical Issues in the Silesian Translations of World Literary Classics

Abstract

This study analyses and discusses word-formation, inflectional, and syntactic differences in contemporary translations of world literature into Silesian. The analysis is based on a corpus of nine extensive literary texts translated by seven translators (G. Buchalik, J. Ciurlok, Z. Kadłubek, G. Kulik, M. Melon, M. Syniawa, R. Szyma). A comparison of the idiolects has led to the conclusion that the grammatical structure of Silesian translations is relatively consistent. The highest degree of consistency is observed within inflection. Particularly noteworthy is the presence of several grammatical features consistently implemented across all idiolects – namely, the instrumental case plural ending -ami (autami, chustkami); the first-person singular present-tense ending -ã (widzã, rozumiã); and the future-tense paradigm of the verb być (bydã, bydziesz, bydymy). The greatest degree of variation is observed in the syntactic layer. The identified differences (for instance, the scope of use of the accusativus cum infinitivo construction and dlŏ + present tense) arise from the tendency of some Silesian authors to incorporate features of their local dialects (G. Buchalik) and to widen the systemic distance from standard Polish through numerous innovations (G. Kulik).