Keywords: Cities on powiat status;local government budget;local finances.
In recent years there was a series of negative economic trends related to the functioning of the local government sector in Poland. They concerned, among others, a decrease in revenues and increased debt levels. This article aims to identify the financial condition of selected city counties (cities with powiat rights). Particular attention was paid to the analysis of individual types of income and expenses of these units and the dynamics of their debt. The summary contains conclusions concerning the economic situation of selected cities.W ostatnich latach wystąpiło szereg niekorzystnych tendencji ekonomicznych związanych z funkcjonowaniem sektora samorządowego w Polsce. Dotyczyły one m.in. spadku dochodów i wzrostu poziomu zadłużenia. Celem artykułu jest zidentyfikowanie kondycji finansowej wybranych miast na prawach powiatu. Szczególną uwagę poświęcono analizie poszczególnych typów dochodów i wydatków tych jednostek oraz dynamice ich zadłużenia. W podsumowaniu zawarto wnioski dotyczące sytuacji ekonomicznej wybranych miast.
More...Keywords: Conquest of Mexico; Moctezuma II; Indians
The conquest of Mexico, which has an impact on the lives of its inhabitants today, is one of the main themes in the early works of writer Carmen Boullosa. In the novel Llanto. Novelasimposibles the author returns to the Aztec Empire to make a reinterpretation of the events of 1519–1521, while the second novel Duerme takes the reader to the days of the colonial era. Moctezuma II, who wakes up from his sleep in the second half of the twentieth century, becomes a postmodern figure. Claire, who reaches the New World on a pirate ship, becomes a witness to the exploitation of the indigenous population by the Spanish masters. Both characters are aware of the fact that the collapse of the empire means an irretrievable loss of the old world and its primary cultures.
More...Keywords: semantics; valency; nominalization; action nominals; result nominals
This article deals with the problem of the relations between Polish verbs and their nominalizations, namely, the action nominals on the one hand, and the result nominals on the other. The author considers the regularities in inheriting by the first category the valencies of the corresponding verbs as well as the phenomena associated with the lack of such regular inheritance in the case of the second class. The subject of the analysis are speech act verbs and their nominals, i.e. the series of expressions like: {grozić} ‘threaten’– {grożenie} ‘threatening’ – {groźba} ‘threat’, {deklarować} ‘declare’ – {deklarowanie} ‘declaring’– {deklaracja} ‘declaration’, etc. The author provides tests allowing us to distinguish action nominals in the strict sense (i.e. the gerundive nominals) from result nominals.
More...Film culture research involves observing and analysing complex production, economic and market contexts as well as film set issues and the film preparation process, team work realities, customs, and self-reflective narratives of crew members, which usually fall beyond the scope of the film studies. The film production culture research, though innovative a few years ago, is now becoming more and more popular in Poland. Therefore, it appears to be the right moment to define both the state of research and the latest achievements in the production studies in Poland. The aim of this paper is to present an outline of the Polish film culture research on film production in Poland, make an attempt to systematise it as well as specify the areas that have not been examined thoroughly.
More...Keywords: pedagogical diagnosis; art‑based research; mixed methods
In the article, a kind of reconnaissance, the author considers possibilities of applying bricolage method used as a diagnostic strategy during research carried out while communing with the work of art (art‑based research). This type of considerations was classified as mixed‑method research and particular importance was attached to Zaltman Metaphor Elicitation Technique. Multisensory potential of the technique was emphasized as the strategy insists in revealing the pupil’s interests, predilections but also his/her needs aswell as the manner of understanding the world.
More...Keywords: city; city residents; spatial-functional structure of city; urban living environment; motorisation; Poznań;
When observing the development and operation of modern cities, one can quickly come to the conclusion that in the recent years the chief factor of the spatial-structural transformation of cities in Poland (though not only there) and the spatial behavior of their residents has been motorization, and more precisely, the car. This is so because the car, while facilitating and intensifying mobility, makes it possible to draw places of residence apart from those of goal implementation. The ever-growing number of cars moving around a city leads to disturbances in street traffic, makes the service of residents worse, causes many road accidents, and brings about unfavorable qualitative changes in the environment. That is why in many recent conceptions of urban development there appear measures intended to restrict the use of cars, which is one of the ways leading to the construction of 'a city for people'. This paper presents the effect of motorization on modern cities as documented by statistical data concerning Poznań, one of the largest and oldest Polish cities.
More...Keywords: adaptation;mistake;Polish as a foreign language;vocational program;specialization;adaptacja;błąd;język polski jako obcy;program zawodowy;specjalizacja
The Polish Language Teaching as a Foreign Language specialization, which has been run by The Department of Applied and Cultural Linguistics at the University of Łódź for more than 10 years, is presented briefly in the article. A special attention is drawn to the subject of culture, literature and knowledge about Poland in teaching Polish as a foreign language in which students of the specialization are asked to prepare an adaptation of a chosen literary text. The purpose of the article was showing the mistakes that students commit during preparation of work. The analysis of those mistakes indicated what future lectors have the greatest difficulties with, what knowledge they lack. The material was assessed in terms of methodological and linguistic mistakes, which indicated the general level of future lectors. The conclusions will enable university lecturers to improve the type of information passed on and the way it is conveyed to students from the perspective of the entire glottodidactic specialization.W artykule przedstawiono pokrótce specjalizację Nauczanie języka polskiego jako obcego, którą Katedra Lingwistyki Stosowanej i Kulturowej Uniwersytetu Łódzkiego prowadzi już od ponad 10 lat. Szczególną uwagę zwrócono na przedmiot Kultura, literatura i wiedza o Polsce w nauczaniu języka polskiego jako obcego, w ramach którego studenci specjalizacji zostają poproszeni o przygotowanie adaptacji wybranego tekstu literackiego. Celem artykułu było przedstawienie błędów, jakie studenci popełniają podczas przygotowywania prac. Analiza tych błędów wskazała, z czym przyszli lektorzy mają największe trudności, jakiej wiedzy im brakuje. Materiał został oceniony pod kątem błędów metodycznych i językowych, co wskazało na ogólny poziom przyszłych lektorów. Wnioski pomogą udoskonalić wykładowcom uniwersyteckim sposób i rodzaj przekazywanych studentom wiadomości, w perspektywie całej specjalizacji glottodydaktycznej.
More...Keywords: shrinking of cities; depopulation process; Polish cities
Urban shrinkage is currently a problem of urbanisation processes in Poland. Systemic changes in Poland, and subsequently the process of integration with the European Union affected the structure and dynamics of the changes in the population of the country, especially in urban areas. The main issue of this paper is to identify the main symptoms of urban shrinking within the area of population changes. The author has characterised the current situation in Polish cities in the context of depopulation phenomena. The analysed period covers the years 2000-2015
More...Keywords: Water mills; forges; Wierna Rzeka River; anthropogenic anastomosis; river channel changes
The aim of this work is to show the influence human activity on small retention and channel changes of the Wierna Rzeka River in last centuries. The Wierna Rzeka River is located in the south-western part of the Holy Cross Mts. region in the Polish Uplands. The Wierna Rzeka River is left tributary of the Biała Nida River. It is classified as a 35.7 km long upland river with an 2.32‰ average slope. The 313.8 km2 large basin has an elongated shape with a meridional extension. The catchment area was located in the south-western part of the Old Polish Industrial District. From the Middle Ages to the end of the 19th century there were at least four forges on the Wierna Rzeka River. There were also water mills built on the former forges infrastructure. The most of mills on the Wierna Rzeka River was built in the second half of the 19th c. and at the beginning of the 20th c. The activity of the forges and mills led to changes in the development of the riverbed and created a pattern of anthropogenic anastomosis. Those changes are documented in archival and cartographic materials. In the second half of the 20th c. the water mills activity was stopped. On the floodplain many remains of metallurgy and mills infrastructure facilities have survived, embankments, canals, mill ponds. Currently, on the Wierna Rzeka River in the abandoned mills area, there are sections of anastomosing channel pattern. As a result of the renaturalization process, many anthropogenic forms disappeared and the drained water reservoirs became part of the floodplain.
More...Keywords: innovations; micro; small and medium-sized entrepreneurs;
SMEs are the driving force of the economy, because economy of many countries in the world is based on them. The micro, small and medium-sized entrepreneurs have limited investment opportunities because of financial reasons. On the other hand, these entrepreneurs are characterized by the ability to respond to changes and to keep up with the counterparties as a result their position on the market is very stable. Innovative public procurement, so-called tailor made, that is, innovative products, services and construction works is an opportunity for creative entrepreneurs who are to stimulate the development of the economy. Innovative solutions in the public sector include higher quality of public services and the benefits of received products, services and construction works tailored to the needs of recipients.
More...Keywords: translator; Conrad; copyist; compiler; Lord Jim
The aim of the paper is to discuss the latest market and commercial tendencies which contribute to the development of new functions of the translator on the literary market. Based on studies by Anna Moc and Krzysztof Fordoński as well as the author’s own analysis of the latest literary translations from English into Polish, this analysis aims at describing two new roles of the translator determined by market criteria.
More...Keywords: atmospheric circulation; circulation indices; air temperature; precipitation; Lublin region
The objective of the study was the long-term and annual variability of atmospheric circulation indices over the Lublin region in the years 1951–2010. The zonal, meridional and cyclonicity indices were calculated based on the calendar of circulation types over East-Central Poland. Furthermore, the relationships between atmospheric circulation and thermal as well as precipitation conditions in the Lublin region were examined. In winter season, the strongest zonal circulation was noticed in the period from the second half of the 1980s to the end of the 20th century. In the last two decades of the analyzed period, a higher frequency of southern circulation in summer was observed. The characteristic features of atmospheric circulation in the study area include the prevalence of westerly circulation in autumn and winter, and easterly air flow in spring. The zonal circulation had an important role for monthly air temperature both in winter and in summer, whereas meridional air flow in spring and autumn. Compared to the air flow direction, the character of atmospheric circulation, expressed by anticyclonic and cyclonic circulation, had a weak influence on monthly air temperatures. The cyclonicity index most accurately reflects the variability of monthly precipitation totals in the Lublin region
More...Keywords: christology; communicatio idiomatum; liturgical chants; Lent
The article presents an analysis of the expressions according to communicatio idiomatum in the texts of the Lenten songs contained in the Liturgical Songbook ‘Niepojęta Trójco’ (‘Mysterious Trinity’) (vol. 1) published by the Dominican Liturgical Centre. Expressions of this kind appear in about 1/3 of the songs and almost all of them have a descending character (properties, states, typically human activities are attributed to the subject identified by the name or the title referring to divinity). It does not seem that the Christological and dogmatic carrying capacity of this kind of expressions was the main purpose of their use by the authors. Rather, it was about the rhetorical attractiveness of their paradoxical character.
More...Keywords: Eastern Borderlands; sentimental tourism; roots tourism; school tourism; Poland; Ukraine;
Eastern Borderlands (the former territories of the Republic of Poland) are an attractive destination for Poles due to the rich Polish cultural heritage. Sentimental feelings connected with Eastern Borderlands are evident in case of elder people and in relation to their origin, and to the memory of important historical events that took place in present-day Western Ukraine, Belarus, and Vilnius. What is the situation like regarding young people? Are the issues concerning the Eastern Borderlands mentioned during Polish, History, and Geography lessons, and are they present in awareness of the students? The aim of the present study is to outline the knowledge of high school students about Eastern Borderlands and its cultural heritage, as well as their willingness to travel to these territories. For this purpose, a questionnaire survey was conducted in Polish voivodeship cities. As a result, 420 correctly completed questionnaires were received. The results show that students know what the Borderlands (“Kresy” in Polish) are, but the knowledge about the Polish cultural heritage is very limited. One out of five respondents indicated that they have family members who originate from the Eastern Borderlands. Only 2% of the students were in Ukraine, however this country is not perceived as safe. Almost half (45%) of the surveyed high school students would like to visit the Eastern Borderlands, 29% do not know if they would like it or not, but the rest responded negatively.
More...Keywords: teamwork; multigenerational team; characteristics of multigenerationality; generation X Y Z; research;
This paper indicates the problematic aspects of new challenges in conditions of action of team employees present in current organizations. It includes chosen aspects present in the process of functioning and management of the multigenerational teams in particular: demographic changes at labour market which resulted among others in simultaneous coexistence near four employees generations (baby boomers, X, Y and Z), emerging chances in their positive using, potential treats for assurance multigenerational cooperation and labour efficiency of age differential teams. The paper is based on literature studies and conducted by the author personal interviews with employees of Lower Silesia companies, includes also other authors` findings associated with presented issue.
More...Keywords: China; economic transformation; superpower; socialist market economy; Chinese dream
The article: The economic aspect of the superpower status of the People’s Republic of China, including its transformation process focuses on the key events in Chinese economic modern history that led it to become superpower in its region and worldwide. The world order prevailing for several centuries was based on the domination of the European civilization. Nowadays, we have the opportunity to observe the birth of a new order based on the dominance of Asian civilization, in which China has a leadership position. That superpower has the greatest impact in the Asia-Pacific region. This is due to the unique features of Chinese civilization, as well as the success of the economic transformation that has been going on for almost 40 years, which can set an example for developing countries. The Chinese way to economic success is unique on a global scale. In addition to centrally planned and free market systems, there are also so-called hybrids that combine features from both systems. In the case of the People’s Republic of China, this system is defined as a socialist market economy. Under this system, state ownership still dominates, but state-owned enterprises have relative independence in operational planning. There are also companies with mixed capital and entirely based on foreign capital and the private sector is playing an increasing role. It is worth paying attention to how China created its own system, because the way it did is completely different than in the West.
More...Keywords: conflicts of memory; politics of memory; transformation; Bulgaria; collective memory; private memory;
The democratic breakthrough of 1989 in Bulgaria has resulted in a clearly problem-oriented approach of society towards memory and the past. The process of developing an efficient model of reckoning with the traumatic heritage of communism divides the national community into dichotomous memory groups with their own understanding, assessment and modes of using the past. Developing a memory policy without a clear institutional support (Georgi Lozanov) oscillates between the attitudes of retribution and reconciliation (Ana Luleva, Svetla Kazalarska). Bulgarian society is characterised by a lack of remembrance of the past and its excess at the same time (Ivaĭlo Znepolski). The recent national past remains unprocessed, which results in the emancipation of private memory, characterised by the ability to overcome the impasse thanks to reliance on shared, non-conflicting, fragmentary memories of ordinary reality (Az zhiviakh sotsializma, I lived socialism, Georgi Gospodinov, et al.). As it is today, Bulgarian culture of memory is characterised by diverse collective memories, the multiplication of conflicts over the interpretation of the past and the fragmentation of memory, which leads to growing antagonisms and social crises.
More...Keywords: secondary prepositions; spatial relations; history of the Polish language; language evolution;
The literature devoted to spatial prepositions is quite abundant. The present article constitutes a recapitulation of the historical research which has heretofore been done on the subject. It is also an attempt at presenting the general characteristics of the evolution undergone by the class of units being described. This class is treated here in a broad manner, taking into account also equivalence. Spatial prepositions are the oldest layer of secondary forms and as far as many aspects are concerned, they constitute a very peculiar group. The attention of the scholar is drawn to lexemes such as blisko [close to, near] and the complex prepositions such as zza, poza, spoza [from behind, beyond, from beyond], which emerged quite late. Properties which are important for the evolution of the prepositions in question also include the considerable number of their variants. The direction of their evolution is quite clear also as far as their functions are concerned. The Polish language inherited from the Proto-Slavonic language precise distinctions of proximity, in contradistinction to the ablative content or expressions of considerable distances, which are indicated in a relatively general manner. The development of secondary prepositions emphasizes these properties of spatial description even further. As years went by, the disproportion between the indications of approaching and departing, of being near and being far away, did not diminish. On the contrary, it increased. The peculiarity of secondary prepositions is determined by their relationship with other classes of words that also describe spatial relations. Without doubt, this mutual relationship, which determines the evolution in spatial description, requires in-depth research.
More...Keywords: Eugeniusz Stanisław Kruszewski
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