• Linguistische Treffen in Wrocław •

On the border of former Lower Silesia and Lower Lusatia, a number of epitaphs have been preserved, including tombstones with more extensive inscriptions, which may be of interest to linguists and language historians, even – as will be demonstrated in this article, among other things – must be. Their contents deserve a comprehensive, professional and above all reliable linguistic analysis, which is still lacking. The Lower Lusatian epitaphs were already the subject of historical research, but only the purely historical side of the entire complex of tasks that is inextricably linked to the research of epitaph texts can be considered fulfilled. The first of these aspects is the error-free reading and transliteration of the often already damaged inscriptions. The degree of completeness and correctness of the transliteration attempts of the epitaph texts in the graphemic layer is very inconsistent in previous analyses. Another area that represents a much greater disadvantage of previous publications are the translation attempts proposed there. Serious errors in the translation area, as well as mistakes and mostly completely misplaced subjective additions, mean that the interpretations of the epitaph texts proposed there can often not be regarded as translations, but at best as “information notes” on the content of the individual monument texts. Some of the distortions result from faulty transliterations, others from incomplete or incorrect readings, and others again from a lack of skill in translating older texts as well as a lack of knowledge of the nuances of Early New High German or from the neglect of stylistic questions. In this article, the author attempts for the first time, using selected source material from Benau/Bieniów (rural municipality of Sorau/Żary), to demonstrate in a philological manner and on the basis of independently prepared and discussed linguistic historical material how the previous shortcomings in the above-mentioned studies should be remedied in a philologically oriented research project.

At the beginning of the 2020s, the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war led to deep transformations in our society and in its development. In this new context, the role of (digital) media and (renewable) energy has become even more crucial for our social life and interaction than in the past decades. Especially at such a time of crisis, these two pillars of our economy and communication appear to be worth investigating from different research perspectives. Within the framework of Applied German Studies, this general overview article explores the impact of digital media and renewable energy respectively on (language) teaching and discourse. By focussing on media- and energy-related neologisms and word formation elements such as enernet, e- and elektro-, the writer reflects on the changes that affected the fields of education and society during the latest years. Against this backdrop, the article provides inputs and questions for further research in two branches of Applied German Studies. As far as didactics is concerned, the focus lies on the opportunities offered by the IT-based (language) teaching strategies that were utilised during lockdown. As for the role of energy (supply) in the current Russia-Ukraine war, this paper sheds light on related terms and language patterns as possible objects of analysis in political, media and scientific discourse.

The subject of the analysis in this article is changes in the naming of streets in Grünberg, now Zielona Góra. This city was part of Germany for a long time and was assigned to Poland after World War II. In 1945, the Polish government had to take steps to change German names into Polish ones. The reasons for this were of various nature. The names had to be adapted to the Polish language, but the propaganda that this was a reclaimed area also had to be supported. The problem with the street names was that they had never had a Polish form before, so it was not possible to fall back on old names. In this article, the new Polish names are juxtaposed with the German ones. On the basis of the analysis, different methods are identified that were used in this process of change, be it different translation methods or even new names. The starting point is the thesis that the semantics of street names influence the process of name conversion. The first step was therefore a semantic classification of the German street names. They were divided into names that originated either from proper names or from appellatives since this plays a role in possible translation methods. This was followed by a categorization into different semantic groups. The processes that were applied were determined in each subgroup created. The analysis showed that some German street names were translated, but most were completely changed. The process of creating new street names was a means of Polonising the area. Most street names in Zielona Góra were stripped of their German traces. Even in the case of neutral street names, only every second name was translated.

This paper examines the role of the SPORT scenario in conceptualizing the local elections in Poland in 2024. Based on an analysis of the Polish online press, which draws on 27 articles, the study aims to determine how sports metaphors are lexically reflected in both the headlines and the body of the articles, and what function they serve. To demonstrate the nature and role of conceptual metaphors in the verbalization of political content, the theoretical part refers to the concept of Idealized Cognitive Models by Lakoff (1987), which is considered an extension of the Cognitive Metaphor Theory by Lakoff and Johnson (1980). Complementary theories such as Rosch’s prototype theory, Johnson’s image schemas, Langacker’s cognitive grammar, and Fillmore’s frame concept were also discussed. The significance of the frame concept is particularly evident in the subcategory of the propositional model type introduced by Lakoff (1987), the so-called scenario. This represents a variety of everyday situations as fixed knowledge structures, the individual components of which only become comprehensible within the context of the entire model. The conducted analysis shows that the SPORTS metaphor not only possesses a creative and decorative potential but also plays an insightful role in conveying political topics by making the target area of LOCAL ELECTIONS IN POLAND 2024 more accessible to a broad readership and positively contributing to the coherence of the analyzed articles.

This paper is about a metapragmatic-sociolinguistic investigation of linguistic processes of the construction of linguistic-variational features in Salvadoran Spanish – specifically in “El Niño de Hollywood” (2018) by Martínez and Martínez. In this work, the authors attempted to approach socio-cultural realities in rural El Salvador by, among other things, realistically imitating the speakers – and thus became social actors themselves, inscribing certain linguistic features as salient for specific rural varieties of Salvadoran Spanish among readers. This contribution qualitatively analyzes various features on the linguistic levels of phonetics, morphosyntax, and lexis in both works. However, the focus is on the pronominal forms of address usted, tú and vos, which are used in the works as part of the fictional linguistic varieties of the rural protagonists. It is not only between leaders and common gang members that a hierarchical structure is created through communicative acts. Between individual gang members, too, the otherwise predominantly solidary style of communication with vos is set aside and a differential hierarchical positioning is established linguistically through the use of the personal pronouns tú and usted. The metapragmatic processes lead to the inscription of (fictitious) rural language usage and are thus part of the enregisterment of rural varieties in El Salvador as “deviant” and “different” varieties of (urban) Salvadoran Spanish.

When reading the biographical parts of funeral sermons, in which extensive depictions of the fatal illness and the death scene take central place, one encounters both borrowed and native medical terminology in the middle of the German common language text, which makes the reception of the text considerably more difficult and raises the question of the purpose for which this hybrid form of expression was used. The aim of the article is to examine twenty Gdansk funeral sermons from the years 1586–1746 using the methods of lexicological analysis with regard to the medical vocabulary contained in the biographical parts and its function. Both the thematic scope and the origin of the excerpted medical terminology are examined. From a thematic point of view, disease names, terms for physical and mental symptoms as well as names for therapeutic agents and body organs can be identified. With regard to the origin of the extracted technical terms, both indigenous and foreign terms can be named. Within the Graeco-Latin technical vocabulary, the following types can be distinguished: 1. termini technici, which are declined according to the Latin inflection paradigm, 2. Germanised terms from Latin and Greek and 3. synonymous word pairs, which are composed of a native and a foreign term. The use of technical vocabulary, especially of foreign origin, is not accidental here and fulfils a precisely defined function. The accumulation of Latinisms and Greekisms results on the one hand from the fact that Latin remained the language of orthodox medicine at the beginning of the 19th century, while on the other hand numerous foreign technical terms are regarded as rhetorical ornaments and proof of the oratorical skills of their authors.

The rapid advancement of technology has transformed communication, particularly through innovations in language and translation technologies. These tools have become essential for global interactions and are pivotal in modern linguistic studies. This paper investigates the application of three online statistical machine translation tools, ChatGPT-4, Google Translate and DeepL, for translating specialised German texts into Slovak. The study focuses on ten articles discussing various aspects of the stock exchange, a domain characterised by complex terminology and contextual nuances. By employing both quantitative and qualitative methods, the research evaluates the error rates, translation effectiveness, and the accuracy of these tools in preserving the original context. Specific challenges addressed include handling linguistic intricacies, domain-specific terminologies, and contextual fidelity unique to stock exchange texts. The analysis combines error rate calculations with qualitative assessments, offering a comprehensive evaluation of the tools’ capabilities. The findings underscore the limitations and strengths of automated translation systems when applied to specialised text genres, providing critical insights for developers and practitioners in translation technology. The study shows that the tools often struggle with compound terms, anglicisms and jargon words. This study contributes to the growing body of knowledge in language technology, specialised domain translation, and machine translation research, highlighting areas for improvement and potential advancements in automated systems. Its practical implications extend to linguists, translators, and software developers aiming to enhance machine translation tools for specialised applications.

Nowadays, many international companies advertise their products and services on social media to reach diverse target audiences. To achieve successful communication with potential customers, companies need to adapt their advertising messages to the target audience’s cultural values and communication styles. This research explores the linguistic solutions in advertisements of two car companies: Germany-based Volkswagen and Italy-based Fiat, targeting German and Italian customers. The study examines how these companies align their advertising strategies with the cultural values of their respective markets and how this influences online engagement from potential car buyers. In order to explore this relationship, the collected advertisements are analyzed from the semiotic perspective. Discourse and semiotic analysis demonstrate which cultural values (based on Hofstede’s cultural dimensions theory) and brand-related qualities the companies render in their advertising through engagement language and various advertising strategies (such as celebrity endorsement and green advertising). The analysis of online customers’ engagement (number of likes and comments) allowed for exploring the pragmatic effect of the linguistic and advertising solutions of Volkswagen and Fiat. The results revealed similarities and differences in the language and focus of the two companies’ advertising. Both companies refer to specific cultural values (for example, long-term orientation). However, each company renders these values through different linguistic and advertising instruments. As for the pragmatics of the advertising language, specific linguistic and advertising solutions (such as engagement language and user-generated content) increased user activity. The research proves the importance of cultural sensitivity in international advertising, demonstrating that tailoring language and content to the preferences of the target audience is crucial for successful intercultural communication.

The article is devoted to the study of structural-semantic peculiarities of the eponymous terms of the English professional language of medicine. In this study the structural types of terms are distinguished and analysed, their modifications and efficiency are identified and sources of proprial components of clinical terms are described. The study of the eponymous terms of the English professional language of medicine had a phased nature and consisted of four stages. The first stage of the research involved analysis of the basic approaches to professional language and the notion of term and enunciation of the working definitions of the linguistic concepts used in the study. The purpose of the second stage of the research was to generate the study material. With the help of continuous sampling, a total of 1600 English clinical eponymous terms were selected from the corpus of the English language professional medical literature using corpus linguistics methods and automatic text processing. The sources of the material were dictionaries, encyclopaedias, scientific and journal publications, reference books, dissertations and textbooks. The essence of the third stage of the study was to analyse the structural-semantic features of the English clinical eponymous terms. The proprial components of the terminological units are characterised in terms of the nationality of the researchers; structural models of the terminological units with proprial components and their modifications are identified and the most productive structural models of the English clinical eponymous terms are described. The fourth stage of the study is devoted to establishing the semantic features of the proprial components in eponymous terms. Our own semantic classification of proper names is proposed, the quantitative characteristics of each thematic group are established and the most productive core components of the eponymous terms are identified.

Literary text is just as important in foreign language teaching as other types of text. It is necessary to familiarize oneself with the role of the literary text in didactic verbal communication, as well as the hierarchy of the goals and tasks of literary education. Attention should be focused on reading as an activity, method, and cultural activity, as well as on the qualities and types of reading in foreign language teaching at primary level. The aim of text interpretation in the didactic process is to create conditions precisely for the perception of the aesthetic value of the work itself, with equal participation of cognitive and emotional components. Reading competence is one of the most important key skills and the need to constantly develop it becomes one of the main tasks during literature lessons even in primary school. Through the regular use of suitable texts and tasks for reading comprehension in foreign language lessons, the demands on reading skills are constantly increasing, which has a positive effect on the development of the students’ reading culture. Implementing various materials into the teaching process allows students to understand the real world of another culture. Not only does it arouse interest in topics and attitudes, but on the other hand the student enjoys discovering unusual information, and learns not only about the current civilization but also the history and social development of the country and the language.

Despite the fact that numerous proverbs about proverbs stress the truth of proverbs, and assert that proverbs cannot be contradicted or judged, proverbs have never been considered as absolute truths. While people have appreciated the didactic wisdom of these sapiential gems (see Mieder 1985), they have certainly also noticed the limited scope of proverbs when interpreted as universal laws of behavior. The folk do not consider proverbs sacrosanct, and people are well aware of the fact that proverbs are at times simply too rigid and limited in their prescribed wisdom. For centuries, proverbs have provided a framework for endless transformation. In recent decades, the modification of proverbs has taken on such proportions that sometimes we can even encounter more proverb transformations than traditional proverbs. Wolfgang Mieder has invented a term anti-proverb (or, in German, Antisprichwort) for such deliberate proverb innovations. Although proverb transformations arise in a variety of forms several types, which are by no means mutually exclusive, stand out, for example, adding new words to the original text; replacing a single word; substituting two or more words; changing the second part of the proverb; melding two proverbs; punning; adding literal interpretations. The focus of this study is on the analysis of addition, one of the most popular mechanisms of proverb variation in 263 transformations of 13 Anglo-American proverbs about money. Furthermore, the study concentrates on the discussion of doubts concerning the truthfulness of proverbs in my corpus, according to the money proverbs and anti-proverbs. The anti-proverbs discussed in the present study were taken primarily from written sources and can be found in two collections of Anglo-American anti-proverbs compiled by Wolfgang Mieder and Anna T. Litovkina (see Mieder and Tóthné Litovkina 1999; T. Litovkina and Mieder 2006).

In recent years, the growing popularity of Korean culture in Poland has become increasingly noticeable. This trend observed is part of a global rise in interest in Korean culture, referred to as the “Korean wave”. Among the factors contributing to the increasing fascination with South Korea is the popularity of Korean television series available via streaming platforms. The aim of this article is to compare the table etiquette principles promoted in Korean dramas with the recommendations found in online guides on this subject available in Polish. Despite the trend toward South Korean culture in Poland, there is still a limited number of studies on its culture and customs. The choice of the topic concerning table manners is not accidental. For Koreans, both the preparation of dishes and the rules of etiquette that dictate how meals should be consumed are of significant importance. For the purpose of this study, information from Polish-language online guides was selected and compared. The research material, in the form of scenes from television series, was drawn from Korean productions available on the Netflix streaming platform. The scenes were selected in a way to enable the analysis of the etiquette in both verbal and non-verbal layers, focusing on the basic rules currently followed at the Korean table in family, social, and professional settings. The results of the analysis can serve both theoretical and practical purposes, providing a comprehensive and synthesized set of essential information that may be useful for individuals traveling to South Korea, fans of Korean cuisine visiting restaurants offering Korean specialties, and employees working in Korean companies in Poland.

This paper focuses on the findings of a 2018/2019 survey on sight translation in translator/interpreter training conducted at Polish universities. The questionnaire comprised of 26 questions about sight translation as an additional tool in translator/interpreter training was addressed to the academics from the Departments of Applied Linguistics and German Studies in Poland. The aim of the study was to determine possible applications of sight translation in teaching other types of translation and interpreting, as well as to identify competences required for an effective sight translation performance. Consequently, the data obtained were intended to facilitate the author’s further research on sight translation and its implementation in translator/interpreter training, as well as to contribute to the development of a model for sight translation teaching. Analysis and evaluation of questionnaire feedback provide evidence for popularity and usefulness of sight translation in teaching other types of translation and interpreting. Sight translation is used in the pre-translation/pre-interpreting phase as an introduction to a given topic or as a consolidation or a follow-up task to a particular translation/interpreting exercise. Furthermore, it is a valuable aid in the development of various skills and competences concerning reading, code-switching and speaking. The study proves that sight translation contributes to the development of skills required in target text production, i.e. creating an outline of the target text, speaking in public, creating texts of various types and on particular topics, maintaining coherence and cohesion in the target text as well as divided attention to multitask. Sight translation in translator/interpreter training can have a positive impact not only on the improvement of vocabulary and grammar in a given situational or communication context but also on the increase of cultural awareness in the target language.

This paper explores the productivity and creativity of phraseme constructions (PhraCons) within the framework of Construction Grammar, with a particular focus on Russian examples. Productivity, defined as the diversity of slot fillers, and creativity, the speaker’s ability to generate novel constructs, are studied in tandem to understand their interrelation. By examining the interplay between productivity and creativity, the study expands the theoretical understanding of Construction Grammar, particularly with respect to idiomatic and schematic constructions. The study is part of the ongoing COST-project “PhraConRep,” aimed at documenting phraseme constructions across Eastern and Central European languages. This research contributes to the development of multilingual repositories for phraseme constructions, enriching cross-linguistic studies. The primary goal is to classify PhraCons based on their productivity levels and to analyze how their flexibility impacts linguistic creativity. The research addresses key questions about the boundaries between theoretically productive and practically utilized constructions. The analysis uses corpus data from Russian and multilingual sources, categorizing constructions based on their productivity, type frequency, and semantic diversity. Slot fillers are evaluated to determine the degree of creativity and freedom speakers have when using these constructions. The study identifies a continuum of productivity levels, ranging from highly productive to non-productive PhraCons. It demonstrates that creativity often involves the use of rare slot fillers, with less frequent constructions sometimes requiring greater inventive effort. The research also highlights the role of idiomaticity and schema flexibility in fostering linguistic innovation. The paper argues that productivity and creativity are gradient properties, influencing not only the flexibility of constructions but also their lexicalization in discourse. These findings have implications for both theoretical linguistics and practical lexicography. Insights from this study support the creation of multilingual PhraCons repositories, providing tools for language teaching, translation, and lexicographical endeavors.

The article begins by defining the concept of conspiracy and then provides a brief overview of the history of conspiracy narratives and the current state of research. It is noted that although there are already numerous publications on conspiracy narratives from various academic perspectives, the linguistic specifics of such narratives have so far been little studied. This is particularly true with regard to the lexis and, above all, the text types that are typical of conspiracy narratives. This article therefore examines two corpora of Reichsbürger texts in more detail. Since the ideology of the Reichsbürger is constitutively based on conspiracy narratives, texts from this milieu represent a suitable material basis. With regard to the typical text types in which conspiracy narratives occur, it can be shown that it is mainly tracts that are used by Reichsbürger to convey such narratives. Furthermore, text types that convey a clear factual orientation are preferred, while claims of alleged conspiracies only rarely appear in opinion-based texts. The producers emphasize that the statements are the truth, about which the ignorant majority of the population must be informed. A closer look at the specific lexis reveals parallels to this finding. Here, it can also be seen that the beliefs of the majority society are qualified as deception and fraud and thus contrasted with the conspiracy narratives of the Reichsbürger, which are described as truth. Overall, completely new insights can be gained with regard to the text types; in terms of lexis, the results obtained confirm the findings of other relevant studies in this area.

In recent years, gendered language has developed into an element of discourse. At universities and in the public sphere, there is an ongoing search for so-called gender-equitable formulation constants, which present enormous grammatical difficulties in terms of performance. The aim of this article is to highlight problem areas in the use of gendered language in general and in teaching and learning materials in particular and to identify the resulting difficulties in teaching GFL learners in foreign language lessons. The grammatical-semantic mechanisms of our language system clearly demonstrate that gendering has considerable irregularities and thus poses problems that make language acquisition more difficult. Thus, language system-related facts speak against the integration of gendering into the language learning process. At the beginning of the article, two terms that are fundamental to the topic are explained. These are gender-inclusive language and the generic masculine. This is followed by an evaluation of the materials examined, which are GFL textbooks that are relevant for testing and assessment. To be more precise, personal designations were scrutinized to see to what extent gendered and ungendered forms occur in them. Overall, it can be seen that the teaching materials make little use of gendered language. References to persons were analyzed within the exercises and not primarily in tasks. This section is followed by an analysis of problem areas of gendered language related to the language system. Finally, conclusions are drawn from this analysis for future study material in GFL lessons.

Jokes are one of those linguistic forms that occur everywhere in the world and can therefore be considered universal. They express a general human tendency towards humor. However, this does not mean that all people have the same sense of jokes, which are strongly culturally, historically and/or politically conditioned and also change over time. This also results in many problems with understanding and later translating them. However, probably because of their seemingly banal character, they are rarely scientifically studied. This article attempts to show the universal character of jokes and possible problems with their translation using the example of German and Polish. Both their meaning and their linguistic form were analysed. After the general characteristics and classification of jokes, a linguistic analysis of selected German and Polish jokes was carried out. It proved the universal character of the subject matter of most jokes with situational comedy based on common human stereotypes or experiences. Cultural differences force only a few changes in the area of culturally specific, prototypical elements in their translation. The translation of jokes with word comedy seems to be much more problematic, even if their subject matter is otherwise universal. The puns that appear in them make their literal translation impossible. They force the translator to search for adequate puns in the target language. In this sense, the results of the study may be relevant for translation teaching.

The aim of this article is to analyze the phenomenon of cover songs as translations of song lyrics. Using the cover version “Troszeczkę ziemi, troszeczkę słońca” by Eleni and the original “Ein bisschen Frieden” by Nicole, the linguistic and cultural adaptation of lyrics in cover versions is examined. The article highlights that cover songs are not only musical reinterpretations but also translations that consider the cultural and linguistic context of the target culture. The methodology includes a comparative analysis of the Polish cover and the German original based on five specific criteria that address linguistic and translational aspects. The results show that cover songs can be regarded as translations, as they transfer both the meaning and the emotional impact of the original into another language. This article provides a valuable contribution to existing research by bringing the often-overlooked phenomenon of cover versions as translations to the forefront. While translation studies have predominantly focused on literary translations, it is demonstrated here that cover songs represent an equally significant form of linguistic and cultural translation. This perspective expands the understanding of translation processes and opens up a new area for future research. The paper emphasizes the need to analyze more songs in a similar way and to focus more on intercultural exchange through music within the field of translation studies.

This article deals with the phenomenon of hidden satire in the Austrian digital magazine “Die Tagespresse”. The topicality of this research arises from the increasing number of citations of satirical texts from “Die Tagespresse” by Austria’s renowned media resources. Thus, the aim of this paper is to investigate how hidden satire is realized in the texts of the satirical magazine “Die Tagespresse”. The methodological basis of the analysis includes both lingualiteratic approaches to the differentiation of satire and sociological studies on the development of satire in the digital age. Special attention is also paid to the history of the magazine and its editors, who have helped to shape the magazine’s politics. A closer analysis of the satirical articles shows a certain imitation of the journalistic text structure of renowned, non-satirical news sources. As a result, the study captures the effectiveness of satire’s interaction in the digital space, which is expressed in the integration of multimedia, the active use of hyperlinks and photomontages. In addition, the special features of the use of artistic means for text design were analyzed. The texts examined show the use of motifs from mass culture which, in combination with the serious design of the text, create an echo effect. The results of this article contribute to a deeper understanding of the functions of satire in a media text.

Specialist communication concerns many areas, e.g. technology, medicine, or construction. It accompanies us not only in our working lives but also in our daily lives. An important aspect of technical communication between experts and laypeople is to convey the message briefly and simply in order to achieve the goal of comprehensibility. Specialized language plays a very important role in technical communication. They are the basis of communication and enable understanding in a particular specialized field. Specialist communication often takes place between an expert and an expert who can easily understand the specialist vocabulary of the field in which they specialize. In the case of communication between an expert and a layperson, specialized communication must be based on the fact that the vocabulary used by the expert can also be understood by a person who is not an expert in the field in question. The article analyses specialist communication in the field of dentistry on the example of German and Polish dental clinic websites. They were investigated according to various criteria, e.g. the design of the website and the number of images, the number of specific tabs, and the use of technical language. Each criterion aims to highlight the differences and similarities that emerge from analyzing the German and Polish websites.

The constant change in the media landscape has a significant influence on the development of all text types. This also includes a form at the intersection of literature and journalism – literary reportage, which increasingly displays media characteristics. Through the integration and interaction of different media channels such as text, image, sound and interactive elements, literary reportage opens up new perspectives on the representation of reality. This phenomenon requires a detailed analysis in order to understand how the media strategies are used and what functions they fulfill. The analysis, based on media theory, opens up new dimensions of literary reportage in its contemporary form. The original value of the analysis lies in the extension of the previous definition of literary reportage by considering mediality as an integral part of the text type. The article examines how its two essential medial characteristics – visuality and sonority – emerge and what effect they have. The methodology consisted of analysing literary reportages that integrate various media channels. The functioning of these channels was analysed on the basis of case studies and related to theoretical approaches to mediality and intermediality. The results show that the mediality of literary reportage – both in the form of the combination of media in the context of intermedial relations and through the media codes conveyed in the text – enriches the narrative process. It contributes to understanding the events described in the text on a new level. At the same time, the role of the reader is decisively enhanced, as they are actively involved in the interpretation, which promotes interactivity and personal engagement with the text. It is, therefore, reasonable to conclude that the media-theoretical approach allows literary reportage to appear from a new perspective. By taking mediality into account, the understanding of the different narrative strategies is deepened, which can be applied in particular to the practice of writing and analysing literary reportage.

This study investigates the subtle forms of discrimination in the German language, known as microaggressions, which can manifest both grammatically and lexically. In an increasingly diverse society, language plays a crucial role in either promoting or obstructing inclusion. While previous studies have acknowledged the impact of the generic masculine and stereotypical language patterns, everyday microaggressions that reinforce exclusion – particularly on social media – have been insufficiently explored. This analysis seeks to demonstrate how language sustains unconscious biases and marginalizes specific groups, such as women and LGBTQ+ communities. The research questions focus on identifying specific linguistic structures that contribute to exclusion and exploring alternatives for more inclusive communication. The study employs discourse analysis to examine examples from social media, everyday conversations, and public communications. The findings indicate that certain language patterns, such as the generic masculine, continue to reinforce unequal power dynamics and contribute to the invisibility of minority groups. Furthermore, social media often amplifies these microaggressions but also serves as a platform for raising awareness about inclusive language. The study offers practical approaches for promoting language policies that support inclusivity and reduce marginalization, emphasizing the importance of revising language use to create a more just and inclusive society.

This research paper presents an affective storytelling method for teaching/learning a foreign language using the example of German as a foreign language lessons. The purpose of the article is to present a synthetic summary of previous developments in storytelling. Storytelling in the context of didactics is a language teaching method that uses stories and narratives as an educational tool. Language content is conveyed in the form of a story, which means natural language acquisition for the learners. Storytelling focuses not only on the linguistic structure, but also on the social and cultural context, which supports a more authentic transfer of information. Affective storytelling, on the other hand, is an approach that focuses on students’ emotions and emotional involvement in the learning process. In the field of foreign language teaching, affective storytelling aims to evoke positive emotions in the context of language acquisition. Research on affective storytelling encompasses aspects of emotion psychology, educational psychology and neuroscience. Researchers working on affective storytelling include Mary-Helen Immordino-Yang and Antonio Damasio. Their findings suggest that the affective involvement of students in the learning process can support the memorization of material and thus influence the lasting acquisition of language skills. After an outline of the concept of affective storytelling, a historical outline and the current state of research are demonstrated. Criteria for the selection of texts from popular literature are then presented, followed by a description of the development of language skills in German as a foreign language lessons using the method described (descriptive overview). Finally, the positive and negative aspects of affective storytelling are discussed.

The objective of this article is to provide a comprehensive analysis of artificial languages, commonly referred to as conlangs, with a particular focus on their development, construction, and the functions they fulfill in various cultural and social contexts. Artificial languages constitute an interdisciplinary field that integrates elements of art, science, and philosophy. Despite their potential, they remain underexplored in contemporary linguistic research, where their study is frequently limited to their role as foundational models for programming languages. Such an approach overlooks their broader applications, including their significance as international auxiliary languages or as artistic creations. From their intentional emergence during the Middle Ages to their contemporary presence in popular culture, artificial languages have undergone significant evolution, serving diverse purposes – ranging from fostering global communication to constructing intricate fictional universes. The heterogeneous nature of these languages necessitates a nuanced understanding, as each subcategory is defined by distinct features that influence the scope and framework of their study. This paper investigates the multifaceted roles and applications of artificial languages, their creation processes, and the criteria used to evaluate them. Special emphasis is placed on naturalistic languages, which emulate the grammatical and phonological structures of natural languages, thereby enhancing their authenticity. The discussion also addresses auxiliary languages designed to bridge communication gaps across cultures. Furthermore, the article examines the influence of artificial languages on literature, film, and video games, as well as their increasing prominence in academic settings, where they are gaining recognition as valuable tools for teaching and research.

Multilingualism is a global phenomenon (cf. Franceschini 2022), which can also be observed in the EU countries. As a result of the EU’s language policy, a large proportion of EU citizens speak one or more foreign languages at a communicative level in addition to their own mother tongue. Due to the freedom to provide services within the EU, service centres (Shared Service Centres – SSC) of large companies can be opened in Central Europe, including Poland. Employees sought after on the labour market – among whom there are also neophilologists – are plurilingual and form multilingual teams where they work in one or more foreign languages, depending on the region of business. This is particularly important in the context of cooperation between neophilologists and so-called large companies. The aim of the article is to discuss the terminological diversity associated with the phenomenon of plurilingualism and multilingualism, both in the sense of the use of languages and of specialised languages, dialects and language varieties (cf. Riehl 2024). In addition, corresponding terms in some languages are compared both in the European context (Polish, French, German and English) and in the Asian context (Chinese) in order to make the terminology clear for further considerations in the article. The term multicompetence is also introduced. Service centres and their classification are also discussed, presenting the current state of the market in Poland, thus illustrating a convergence between the linguistic and business aspects. The theoretical reflections are enriched by a result of the conducted research.

This paper examines the literary treatment of trauma and memory in Ulrike Draesner’s novel “Die Verwandelten” focusing on the use of Silesian dialectics as expressive tools for conveying traumatic experiences. The aim of this study is to explore how dialectisms act as narrative strategies to represent trauma and articulate the linguistic experiences of the characters. The methodological foundation of the analysis is based on the approaches of memory studies and trauma studies, as well as sociolinguistic concepts such as multilingualism and the linguistic experience of trauma. The analysis reveals that dialectisms not only convey regional authenticity but also serve as a medium to depict the fragmented perception and fractured identity of the characters. The study demonstrates that through the deliberate use of Silesian dialectisms, Ulrike Draesner creates literary tension surrounding issues of trauma, violence, loss of homeland and language. This research analyzes how Silesian dialectisms act as a unique space of memory and a means of identity exploration within the novel. By incorporating dialectisms, Draesner effectively portrays the complexity of individual and collective experiences in the context of displacement, exile, and transgenerational trauma. The findings of this analysis contribute to a deeper understanding of the role of language and dialect in the literary representation of trauma.

The present study examines the evolution of partner search by comparing historical matrimonial advertisements (1940–1960) with modern Tinder profiles (2024) in German and Polish. The aim of the analysis is to identify linguistic and content-related differences as well as societal changes in the expectations and representations of partnerships. The methodology is based on the examination of four corpora which were analyzed using quantitative and qualitative methods. Using the corpus linguistics software Sketch Engine, recurring linguistic patterns, keywords, and expressions were identified. The results show that historical press advertisements strongly focused on financial security, social norms, and societal status, whereas modern profiles emphasize individuality, humor, and shared interests. Furthermore, there are notable differences in the linguistic style: while historical advertisements are formal, precise, and schematic in their formulation, Tinder descriptions are characterized by a casual language with Anglicisms, slang, and emoticons. This study stands out by conducting both an interlingual and diachronic comparison of German- and Polish-language matrimonial advertisements and Tinder profiles, while analyzing linguistic, social, and cultural developments in partner search. The findings provide insights into the influence of media developments on partner search and illustrate how societal values and communication styles have evolved over time.

This article explores the means of expressing emotionality and their intralingual transfer using the example of the renowned German tragicomedy “Good Bye, Lenin!” (2003) by Wolfgang Becker. The focus lies primarily on the possibilities of expressing emotionality in plain (German) language, as illustrated by the book adaptation of the mentioned film in simplified language by Eva Dix (2015), which is mainly aimed at readers with German as a foreign language or reading difficulties. This corpus is analyzed using selected examples, considering the means of expressing emotionality used, and compared to the original screenplay by Bernd Lichtenberg (2003). The study aims to examine strategies for text simplification through comparative intertextual text analysis, supported by additional linguistic methods and analytical approaches from corpus linguistics, discourse linguistics, text linguistics, semantics, lexicology, and pragmatics, with a focus on linguistic means for portraying emotionality. The analysis is based on the three parameters of emotions as defined by Schwarz-Friesel (2007): intensity, duration, and quality. The study addresses the following research questions: What simplification strategies can be identified in the plain language book concerning emotionality? How does the author work with metaphors, and what role do they play in conveying emotionality? How do the linguistic means used to portray the same emotion differ between the screenplay and the plain language book? The findings indicate, among other things, that the plain language text possesses a high emotional potential despite restrictive guidelines, which in some cases even exceeds that of the underlying screenplay. This is particularly attributed to the narrative style and the surprisingly frequent use of metaphors.

The translation of swearwords in audiovisual content presents a particular challenge due to cultural differences. Vulgarisms are often deeply embedded in their respective cultural and social contexts, which makes their translation into other languages difficult. This study examines the role of swearwords in the German series Dogs of Berlin, with a particular focus on their functions in film. Additionally, the translation of swearwords into Polish and English is analysed to understand how they are interpreted and adapted in the respective linguistic and cultural contexts. A key focus of the analysis lies in the role of swearwords in conveying emotional impact and character development. In many cases, these expressions serve not only as a means of communication but also as a way to intensify emotions, express social tensions, and highlight conflicts between characters. This study explores how the specific functions of swearwords in the film are altered or preserved through the translation process. The analysis reveals that the intensity of swearwords often needs to be adjusted to ensure they remain understandable and appropriate in a different cultural context. In doing so, nuances may be lost, which can affect how the series is perceived by audiences from different cultural backgrounds. The conclusions highlight that the perception of swearwords is strongly influenced by cultural and social factors, leading to varying interpretations and reactions among viewers.

The content of the review article is a discussion and assessment of the practical applicability of a book containing an annotated bibliography of publications by Jerzy Bartmiński, a Polish linguist who specialized in the field of ethnolinguistics, folkloristics and Slavic studies, and who died in 2022. The introductory part is dedicated to the function of the bibliography. The main part of the article deals with the structure and functionalities of the reviewed volume. The publication, which should be seen primarily as a tribute to a meritorious researcher and academic teacher, is certainly a very practical and helpful source of data for text researchers and ethnolinguists. The bibliography is divided into eighteen chapters, organised by types of publications, a detailed subject index and an index of names that make it easy to find the requested data, and the attached summaries which provide orientation in the content and methods. The publication also fulfils a didactic-educational function in a way that academic career of Professor Jerzy Bartmiński, his enormous and admirable activity as an author and initiator of academic life at the local and international level, can be regarded as an exemplary curriculum vitae for researchers of the younger generation.

The connections between gender as a biological category sexus, grammatical genus and socio-politicalcultural gender and language have always been present in scientific discussions to a greater or lesser extent. In the 1970s and 1980s, programmatic contributions by feminist linguists, such as Senta Trömel-Plötz (1978, 1982) and Luise F. Pusch (1979, 1984), sparked numerous controversies that led to the polarization of position and the so-called family dispute “Familienstreit” among German linguists. The differences of opinion were most often due to a misunderstanding or non-acceptance of the opponents’ assumptions, who accused themselves above all of the unscientific nature of their arguments. The debate on gender and language that has been going on in German-speaking scientific circles for over forty years not only refers to well-known issues such as systemic asymmetries or generic masculinum. Significant importance is attributed to interdisciplinary research that broadens the research horizon of gender linguistics to date.

This review article addresses Isabelle Thormann's book “Tatort Syntax. Authentizitätsfeststellung in der forensischen Linguistik”. The introductory section briefly presents forensic linguistics as a research discipline, considering its narrow and broad definitions as well as its subfields, such as legal linguistics, police language, language in court or in legal proceedings, and other criminal areas where forensic linguistics functions as a “forensic auxiliary science”. In the subsequent and much more extensive section, the book's detailed and comprehensive discussion of the role of syntax in forensic linguistics is addressed. In the first step, the author focuses primarily on theoretical aspects. The following elaborations are, however, very practically oriented and concern two areas: (1) various factors that can be used to identify an idiolect – a central concept of the book – and consequently possibly allow to determine the text authorship. These factors primarily include incorrect use of commas and spelling errors, as well as different syntactic ambiguities. (2) Procedures for coding or marking the mentioned errors. Finally, attention is directed to the last chapter, which has a didactic character and can also be considered a handbook of German syntax (in a simplified form). The article concludes with a general assessment of the book and notes on its potential further applications.

The refugee crisis and refugee movements are among the most topical issues of recent years, they have been addressed not only in various media but also in academic research. The start of the last major refugee crisis in 2015 played a key role in triggering a public discourse on migration. The refugee crisis and related events are referred to in everyday life, in various media and in social networks. There are numerous texts in the press media of various countries that deal with the topic of migration, refugee policy and other aspects of the refugee discourse. Many of these articles focus particularly on the problems of acceptance and rejection of refugees. The monograph “Zwischen Willkommen und Ablehnung. Die Fluchtbewegungen von 2015 in der deutschen, der slowakischen und der ungarischen Pressekommunikation” by Attila Mészáros presents the migration discourse from a comparative perspective. The volume focuses on the press communication of Germany, Slovakia and Hungary on the topic of migration. The viewpoints of the countries examined are presented, particularly with regard to aspects of acceptance and rejection. This manifests itself, among others, in the use of specific buzzwords and argumentation patterns, which are dealt with in the work. The study is based on a multi-level analysis model. Both the vocabulary (micro level) and the actors and topoi (macro level) are taken into account in the analysis.

In an increasingly globalized and digitalized world, language remains a decisive factor for professional success. The German language in particular plays an important role in today’s job market – not only in Germany itself but also in many other European countries and beyond. German is the most widely spoken native language in the European Union and is considered an important working language in many international companies. Knowledge of foreign languages not only opens up access to one of the largest and most stable labor markets in Europe but also improves career opportunities in multinational corporations that maintain business relationships with German-speaking partners. Employers value employees with language skills, as they not only communicate more effectively but can also overcome cultural barriers and thus contribute to international cooperation. In addition, application procedures show that language competence is increasingly valued as a soft skill – an indicator of learning ability, intercultural understanding and adaptability. Overall, it is clear that a foreign language – in this case, German – is far more than just a regional language: it acts as a gateway to economic opportunities, career advancement and cultural participation. Against this backdrop, it is essential for educational institutions, employers and political decision-makers to make the learning and promotion of German a priority. “Sprache im Beruf. Herausforderungen und Chancen mehr- und viesprachiger beruflicher Kontexte” is an anthology that addresses these aspects. It deals with the aspects of professional communication and training, language teaching and language mediation in the subject as well as the use of media in professional communication.

The subject of this review article is an anthology edited by Vincent Balnat and Barbara Kaltz. It is entitled “Genus and Gender in European Languages. History and Present” and was published in 2025 by Narr Francke Attempto Verlag in Tübingen. The volume comprises 468 pages and has been published as the sixth volume in the series “Sprachvergleich” (ISBN 978-3-381-12301-8). From the perspective of linguistics, particularly cultural and language studies, the present volume makes a significant contribution to the exploration of the linguistic dimensions of gender and gender equality. The contributions gathered in this volume address various aspects of gender equality in language, taking into account both grammatical and social perspectives. At the core of the discussion is the analysis of gender representation in linguistic expression and the role of language in the construction of gender identity. The authors examine how linguistic changes contribute to the promotion of gender equality in society and what social implications arise from these changes. The volume offers an interdisciplinary approach to these topics and is of interest to both linguists and practitioners involved in the implementation of gender-neutral language in public and private spheres. The work invites a critical engagement with the theoretical and practical aspects of gender linguistics, opening new perspectives for research.

The following review article discusses Helena Krasowska’s monograph “Polish Highlanders in Carpathian Bucovina: A Sociolinguistic and Lexical Study” from 2024, which draws on the Polish-language version published in 2006 but updates and expands upon it. The main idea of the publication is the analysis of language contact in a multiethnic and multilingual Central European region: Bukovina. Present-day Bukovina is divided into two states: the northern part of the region lies in Ukraine, and the southern part in Romania. In addition to Ukrainian and Romanian, German and Russian were also historically present there. To this day, Polish, as a minority language, remains an integral part of Bukovina’s linguistic landscape, both in Ukraine and Romania. In the first chapters, the author presents the history of the region and examines the migration processes that determine the current ethnic and linguistic landscape of the territory. The author examines the Polish dialects in six villages – three Ukrainian (Stara Huta, Terebleche, and Niyhni Petrivtsi) and three Romanian (Soloneţu Nou, Pleşa, and Poiana Micului). The analyses are conducted from a sociolinguistic perspective, observing the functional uses of Polish in those villages. A separate chapter thoroughly examines and presents the lexical dialect material (including phonetic and morphological annotations). A typology of linguistic contacts between Polish and other languages in Bukovina is also proposed.