Silesian (ślůnsko godka / ślůnski)
Silesian or Upper Silesian is a West Slavonic language with about 1,250,000 speakers
in Upper Silesia, a region that is partly in Poland and partly in the Czech Republic.
Silesian is closely related to Polish and is considered a dialect of that language by
some linguists.
A new Silesian alphabet was created in 2006 and is widely used on the internet
and also on the Silesian Wikipedia.
Silesian is used to some extent in literature, films, radio and television and
newspapers. Although the language currently has no official status, move are being
made to change this.
Silesian alphabet and pronunciation
Notes
- Voiced consonants become voiceless at the ends of words
- At the beginning of a word u = [wu], and [w] before and after vowels
- After k and g, e = [e]
Sample text
Wšyjske ludźe rodzům śe swobodne a růwne we swojim
werće a prawach. Sům uůne uobdařůne filipym a
sůmńyńym a majům powinność wzglyndym
inkšych jak brat s bratym postympować.
Translation
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They
are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another
in a spirit of brotherhood.
(Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights)
Information about the Silesian provided by Tymoteusz Puławski
Links
Information about Silesian
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silesian_language
http://szl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedyjo:Zasady šrajbůngu
Online Silesian lessons
http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Silesian