Kashubian Informational Site

136 participants sat down to take part in this year’s 7th Kashubian Language Dictation held on November 8, 2008 in Kościerzyna. The text used for the dictation, in its entirety, originated from Aleksander Majkowski’s works and was prepared by Hanna Makurat (Univeristy of Gdańsk) under the direct supervision of Prof. Jerzy Treder.

The prize recipients, recognized in the five distinct categories, are as follows:

I. Public schools (K-8th grade)

1. Klaudia Jankowska - Môłi Mésterk Kaszëbsczégò Pisënkù (en. Little Master of Kashubian Spelling)
2. Magdalena Borzyszkowska
3. Anna Skierka

(more…)

Kashubian dictation

Individuals interested in participating in this year’s Kashubian Language Dictation are asked to submit their entries by mail to:

The Kashub-Pomeranian Association
Straganiarska 20-23
80-847 Gdańsk

or by e-mail to: biuro@kaszubi.pl.

The dictation will be held in Kościerzyna’s District Secondary School Chain Nr. 2,  Wybicki Str 1, on 8 November, 2008.

More information and entry forms (in Polish) are available at the Kashub-Pomeranian Association’s Web site:

• kaszubi.pl

Headquarters of the Kashub-Pomeranian Association, F. Ceynowa Puck District Museum, along with the local Mayor’s Office, Pilëce (Jastrzębia Góra) Community School, and the Pilëce chapter of Kashub-Pomeranian Association invite children and youth of the Puck District to participate in the 17th Jan Drzeżdżon Kashubian Speech Contest. This year contest’s theme is:

“So not to forget our forefather’s tongue.” (more…)

“I am Kashubian” - uttered publicly, launches a series of questions that almost inevitably lead to a discussion about what the term “Kashubian” actually entails. Throughout the years, I have heard different opinions being expressed by both, non-Kashubians and Kashubians alike. As such, the ignorance of not knowing what Kashubian means does not really bother me, until it comes from a Kashubian. Bearing a remarkable similitude to what we were lead to believe for decades, I am deeply saddened when a Kashubian is self-conscious of his heritage. Fortunately, admitting that I am a Kashubian too normally relieves some of the uneasiness of his earlier confession. Following that, whenever possible, I make it a point to elaborate more on why IT IS okay to be proud of being Kashubian, regardless of the religious preference (Slovincians were Protestants), or the country you currently live in.

(more…)

A. Majkowski, Life and Adventures of Remus

The Kashubian Institute of Gdańsk has recently released English translation of “Żëcé i przigòdë Remùsa” under its English title of “Life and Adventures of Remus.” Written by Aleksander Majakowski, this novel is widely recognized as one of the pillars of Kashubian literature.

The enormous task of translation was completed by Blanche Krbechek of the Kashubian Association of North America and Kasia Gawlik-Luiken. Both ladies reside in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

This, fourth so far, translation of the Majakowski’s 1938 book was preceded by the Polish (by Lech Bądkowski, 1964), French (La vie et les aventures de Remus, 1984), and German (Das abenteuerliche leben des Remus. Ein kaschubischer Spiegel, by Ewa Brenner, 1988) translations.

Life and Adventures of Remus

transl. B. Krbechek & K. Gawlik-Luiken
Gdańsk 2008, pp. 496

Gdańsk City Web site recently added Kashubian language version to its municipal informational portal. Reacting to the initiative of the local chapter of ZK-P, with backing from the Gdańsk City Council, it became the first Kashubian language government portal.

Translation of the site was made possible through volunteer work of Tomasz Fopke, Roman Drzeżdżon,  Zbigniew Jankowski, and Jacek Fopke who assumed a role of the project coordinator.

The main challenge translators of the site were faced with was the selection of words and grammar structure allowing readers with limited knowledge of written Kashubian and the non-speakers (Polish readers) to comprehend its content. Reading through the pages, one can easily sense the different dialects the respective authors are comfortable with (i.e.  òdemkłi vs òtemkłi [Kasz. for opened]). Hardly a problem, this spelling variety actually adds texture to what some may consider, dry text. Overall, the spelling seems to lean toward the norms supported by E. Gołąbek (i.e. pąkt vs punkt [Kasz. for point]).

(more…)

On December 31, 2007, a renown Austrian linguist, Ferdinand Neureiter, died. An accomplished scholar and explorer of Slavic (including Kashubian) literature, Neureiter’s bibliography includes such recognized works as:

• Kaschubische Anthologie

• Geschichte der Kaschubischen Literatur. Versuch einer Zusammenfassenden Darstellung - also published in Polish under “Historia literatury kaszubskiej. Próba zarysu” (Gdańsk, 1982).
  

For his contributions to Kashubian culture, he was awarded the prestigious “Stolem Medal” in 1973.

You should mark 7 June of this year as an important date in history for Kashubian computing. Since than, the newly available alpha version of Kubuntu 7.10 Linux operating system (stable release is scheduled for October) includes support for Kashubian language. Not only can Kashubian be set as the system’s default language, but some of the menus display in Kashubian. With this release, we can start talking about a Kashubian operating system in the true meaning of the word.

This development is a direct outcome of KDE’s version 3.5.7 release, which incorporates Kashubian (csb) language support. You can read more about KDE on the project’s Web site.

Kashubian translators, Michał Ostrowski and Marek Kwidziński have been working on KDE / Ubuntu since 2006 and thanks to their tireless efforts, we can now enjoy Kashubian version of Linux. Although there’s still plenty of work to be done (i.e. weeding out typos and translation errors), the hardest part is behind us – Kashubian Linux has hit the cyber space!

Beginning 22 May 2007, KDE 3.5.7 has been available for download from ftp://ftp.kde.org/pub/kde/stable/. As with all KDE releases, this version adds new functionality and improves stability.

Arguably for us, the most important change of this version is the stable support for Kashubian language. Needless to say, we, the Kashubian KDE translators are very proud of this new development.

If possible, please upgrade you version of KDE, install the csb files and let us know what you think! Should you find any translation inconsistencies, typos, etc., please, submit them via contact channels provided on linuxcsb.org.

Marek and Michał

William Shakespeare

Shakespeare’s birthday celebrations will commence at The Baltic Sea Culture Center (Gdańsk, Korzenna Str. 33/35) on 23 April, 2007, at 6 PM. The festivities will start with a presentation of a film based on Shakespeare’s writings. Jazz musicians, Olo Walicki, Piotr Pawlak, and Kuba Staruszkiewicz will provide live background music for this silent film. Later on, fragments of the Taming of the Shrew will be performed in Kashubian, featuring Damroka Kwidzińska and Zbigniew Jankowski. The evening will close out with Olo Walicki’s concert. Accompanied by his band, Walicki will premier his newest album called “Kaszëbë.” Following the performance, Kashubian-style feast will take place.

(more…)