Polsko-łacińskie kontakty językowe w pigułce
Polish–Latin language Contacts in a brief

Author(s): Anna Lenartowicz-Zagrodna
Subject(s): Language studies, Language and Literature Studies
Published by: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Łódzkiego
Keywords: Polish–Latin language contacts; history of the Polish language; influence of Latin on Polish language
Summary/Abstract: The article provides a concise overview of the historical relationship between the Polish language and Latin — from the baptism of Mieszko I in 966 up to modern times. The author shows how the decision to adopt Christianity in the Latin rite determined Poland’s affiliation with Western European culture and how Latin became, for centuries, the language of authority, religion, science, law, and culture. The study traces the evolution of these contacts through five main stages: “Marriage with Latin”, “The Latin Middle Ages”, “The Latin Renaissance”, “The Latin Baroque”, and “The Decline of Latin Dominance”. In the section devoted to the Middle Ages, the author discusses the clergy’s role in spreading Latin writing and the influence of Latin on the development of administrative and chronicle styles in Poland. The analysis of the Renaissance period highlights the humanist return to classical models, the rise of printing and translations from Latin, as well as the influence of Latin on Polish syntax, vocabulary, and style. The Baroque chapter emphasizes the role of Latin in Jesuit education and Sarmatian culture, as well as its status as a symbol of belonging to Western civilization. The phenomenon of macaronism is also discussed as a manifestation of linguistic fashion and noble erudition of the time. The final part focuses on the gradual replacement of Latin by Polish in the eighteenth century, connected with educational reforms, Enlightenment pragmatism, and the introduction of modern languages into schools. Despite losing its dominant position, Latin left a lasting mark on the Polish language – in its alphabet, word-formation system, vocabulary, accentuation, and functional styles (scientific, administrative, and biblical).

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