Keywords
ecolinguistics
linguistic invasion
Polish language
Germanization
Russification
cultural identity
Partitions of Poland
linguistic imperialism
How to Cite
Abstract
This article offers an interdisciplinary examination of the relationship between language and political power during the Partitions of Poland. It analyzes the fate of the Polish language as a linguistic system subjected to a process of “hard invasion” by the occupying empires – German, Austrian and Russian. Within an ecolinguistic framework, language is portrayed as a living organism functioning in a dynamic cultural ecosystem, exposed to domination, suppression, and adaptive resistance. The text introduces a theoretical model (IL- TL-SL) that illustrates the stages of linguistic subjugation and the mechanisms of resistance that followed. Drawing on historical evidence, it demonstrates how the Polish intelligentsia and the wider community preserved the vitality and identity of Polish despite external pressures. Ultimately, the article shows that Polish endured the Partitions not only as a means of communication but also as a core symbol of national memory and identity, regaining full autonomy after 1918. This contribution enriches the discussion on language ecology, linguistic imperialism, and the interdependence between culture, language, and political power.
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