Wybrane cechy XIX-wiecznej polszczyzny w pracy Dawna i teraźniejsza Łomża Leona Rzeczniowskiego
Selected features of 19th-century Polish language in L. Rzeczniowski’s work Łomża of the yesterday and today

Summary/Abstract: The aim of the following article is the description of the features of 19th-century language, on the basis of Rzeczniowski’s work, which was published in 1861. The scope of this work includes only those elements of the language that differentiate the Polish language used by Rzeczniowski from the modern Polish. Differences regard phonetics, morphology and syntax. The phonetic features can be analyzed only on the basis of ortography. The from (graphy) enables us to learn the traces of bent vowels, the pronunciation of the -ija and -yja clusters in the borrowings, as well as the prolonged pronunciation of some consonants in the borrowings. Concerning inflection, there are certain differences in the inflection of nouns, eg. the ending -a in the plural nominative and plural accusative of masculine still nouns. In the pronoun-adjectival inflection there is a persistent use of the ending -ém in the singular instrumentalis and singular locative in neutrum, while in the plural instrumentalis the endning -emi appears in the masculine and nonmasculine elements. The most profound feature of syntax is the adjectival predicate in the instrumentalis, as well as certain differences in word order within the clause. The language of Rzeczniowski’s work is usually consistent with the norm and consuetude of the 19th century Polish language. However, preserving certain forms from the past proves that Rzeczniowski was a traditionalist and rejected the changes of the language.

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