Dialect in the literary works of the new wave of Silesian prose writers Wojciech Kuczok and Szczepan Twardoch
Bogusław Wyderka
Abstract
Wojciech Kuczok and Szczepan Twardoch are prominent writers of Silesian origins. Their opuses, in particular Kuczok’s Gnój and Twardoch’s Drach occupy prized place in modern Polish literature. Both authors apply native dialect in their literary works. Regarding the subject of their works and the use of linguistic material it is impossible to separate the conclusions from the analysis from the perennial discussions about the culture and Silesian language. The literary output of both authors inscribe in the above mentioned discourse. Thus the linguacultural picture, presented as a part of world depicted in their works, is very important. For many readers from outside Silesia, Kuczok and Twardoch’s works are a source of information about the region: its character and problems. The article discusses how the image of Silesia in the level of narration is depicted, what is the role of the dialect in its creation, or more specifically the application of the methods of linguistic stylization. The analysis of the methods of stylization shows profound dissimilarity between the two authors, however, the created image of Silesia is close. Kuczok’s stylization can be described as selective, while Twardoch’s stylization is holistic. Moreover, it is realistic and contains distinct Silesian orthography. In the linguistic picture of Silesia both authors pay attention to the identity dichotomization of Silesian populace, multilingualism, the presence of mixed forms (wasserpolnisch), variability of nomenclature, linguistic relics and innovations created in the background of the cultural differences of the region. The novelists present the “linguistic Silesia” by the similar content, although their styles and the application of the dialect are different. In the literary works of Kuczok, mainly in Gnój, the iconic quotations suggest images and subtle stylization for Silesian dialect. In Twardoch’s Drach, on the other hand, the “linguistic Silesia” is visible in every level of text organization. Drach is a novel about Silesians and their language, written in their mother tongue. Thereupon a question emerges – whether Silesian language in the novel does not overwhelm the readers. Some of the critics claim that reading Drach is difficult. Another emerging matter is whether in Drach the stylization is still dialectic or whether is already a bilingual material. Omnipresence of the Silesian language, however, indicates the latter interpretation.
Keywords:
Wojciech Kuczok, Szczepan Twardoch, Silesian linguistic image, Silesian dialect, stylizationReferences
Dubisz S., 1986, Stylizacja gwarowa w polskiej prozie trzydziestolecia powojennego (Nurt ludowy w latach 1945–1975), Wrocław–Warszawa–Kraków–Gdańsk–Łódź.
Google Scholar
„Fabryka Silesia” 2012, nr 1.
Google Scholar
Górnoślólnskim ślabikórzu, 2010, napisany przez zespół autorów, Chorzów. http://culture.pl/pl/artykul/drach-twardocha-z-historia-slaska-w-tle
Google Scholar
Kadłubek Z., 2008, Listy z Rzymu, Katowice.
Google Scholar
Mayenowa M.R., 1974, Poetyka teoretyczna. Zagadnienia języka, Wrocław–Warszawa–Kraków–Gdańsk.
Google Scholar
Topolińska Z., 1990, Charakter i dynamika językowych procesów integracyjnych w powojennej Polsce, „Socjolingwistyka”, t. 9, s. 29–35.
Google Scholar
Authors
Bogusław WyderkaStatistics
Downloads
License
1. Copyrights to published works are held by the University of Opole (to the collective work) and the Authors (to individual parts of the collective work that have an independent meaning).
2. Only previously undistributed works can be published in the scientific journal "Stylistics".
3. The University of Opole does not restrict the possibility of the author's further dissemination of his work on condition that the scientific journal "Stylistics" is indicated as the original place of publication and the consent of the University Publishing House.
4. Consent to the publication of the work in the scientific journal "Stylistics" is tantamount to granting the author a non-exclusive license to the University of Opole, including the right to use the work without territorial restrictions and time limits in the following fields of exploitation:
a) within the scope of recording and multiplication of the work - production of any number of copies of the work in whole or in part using a specified technique, including printing, reprography, magnetic recording and digital technique, introduction of the work into computer memory and computer networks,
b) within the scope of circulation of the original or copies on which the work has been recorded - circulation, lending or hiring of the original or copies,
c) within the scope of dissemination of the work in a manner other than specified in item 2 - making the work or its abstract available on the Internet by enabling the recipients to access the work on-line or enabling them to download the work to their own device that makes it possible to read it, placing the work in electronic databases that disseminate scientific works, including in particular the CEEOL database (Central and Eastern Online Libray) and the abstract in English in the CEJSH database (The Central Europaen Journal of Social Scienes and Humanites).
d) within the scope of creating and distributing dependent works created using the work - using them in the fields of exploitation specified in points 1-3.
5. The author is not entitled to compensation for granting the license to the work.
6. The author agrees that the University may grant further permission to use the work (sublicense) in the fields of exploitation specified in par. 2 paragraph 4.
7. The author agrees that, in connection with the distribution of the work, his or her personal information, that is, name, affiliation, and e-mail address, may be made public.
Most read articles by the same author(s)
- Bogusław Wyderka, On the Types of Enjambement , Stylistyka: Vol. 7 (1998): Slavic Stylistics
- Bogusław Wyderka, Teresa Skubalanka, Wprowadzenie do gramatyki stylistycznej języka polskiego, Lublin: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Marii Curie-Skłodowskiej, 1991, 188 s. , Stylistyka: Vol. 1 (1992): Stylistics today
- BOGUSŁAW WYDERKA, STANISŁAW DUBISZ, ARCHAIZACJA W XX-WIECZNEJ POLSKIEJ POWIEŚCI HISTORYCZNEJ O ŚREDNOWIECZU, Warszawa: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego, 1991, 199 s. , Stylistyka: Vol. 2 (1993): Przemiany stylowe - Стилевые перемены - Changes of Style
- Bogusław Wyderka, Maria Wojtak, Dialog w komedii polskiej na przykładzie wybranych utworów z XVII i XVIII wieku, Wydawnictwo UMCS, Lublin 1993. , Stylistyka: Vol. 3 (1994): Comparative Stylistics
- Bogusław Wyderka, O niektórych problemach systematyzacji środków stylowych , Stylistyka: Vol. 1 (1992): Stylistics today
- Bogusław Wyderka, Słownik polszczyzny Jana Kochanowskiego, t. 1, A-H, pod red. Mariana Kucały, Kraków: Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN, 1994. , Stylistyka: Vol. 5 (1996): Applied Stylistics
