Jan Drzeżdżon competition finalists named

Yurek — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 13:23:48 +0000

40 participants representing 14 Puck district schools tested their oratorical skills in this year’s Jan Drzeżdżon competition entitled “So not to forget our forefather’s tongue.”

Listed by category are the finalists:

1st Category (1-3rd grade, Public Schools)

1. Andżelika Wach (Swôrzewò/Swarzewo)
2. Paweł Hincka (Gniézdzewò/Gnieżdżewo)
3. Sara Muza (Mòstë/Mosty)

Honorary Mention:

- Agnieszka Stępień (Pilëce/Jastrzębia Góra)
- Klaudia Gralik (Gniézdzewò/ Gnieżdżewo))

2nd Category (4-6th grade, Public Schools)

1. Szymon Heland (Starzëno/Starzyno)
2. Martina Lademann (Dolné Rekòwò/Dolne Rekowo)
3. Michał Joskowski (Dolné Rekòwò/Dolne Rekowo)

Honorary Mention:

- Bartłomiej Borkowski (Gniézdzewò/ Gnieżdżewo)

3rd Category (middle school)

1. Michalina Śliwińska (Starzëno/Starzyno)
2. Angelika Ellwart (Starzëno/Starzyno)
3. Kamil Hintzke (Wiôlgô Wies/ Władysławowo)

Honorary Mention:

- Roksana Marzeion (Wiôlgô Wies/ Władysławowo)

4th Category (post middle school)

1. not awarded
2. Tomasz Bolda (Klanino)
3. Małgorzata Hebel (Klanino)

For his performance, Szymon Heland of Starzëno received the Jan Drzeżdżon best speech award while “Diôbelsczé skrzëpce“ (en. “Devil’s Violin”) award given to schools went to Starzëno School Chain.

You can read more at Puck District Museum’s Web site.

Congratulatations!

Instead of introduction

Yurek — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 17:42:09 +0000

“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.

Ultimately though, I try to convey to my fellow Kashubians that not only we, the bearers of Kashubism must caress our treasure, but also should practice it in our everyday lives; thus, at least partially, pay tribute owed to our forefathers, who have inspired us to raise above the mere cultural obscurity. Language is arguably the most obvious element of any culture so, unless we preserve it, we may not be able to sustain our culture. Speak it, learn how to write it, enjoy it!

With the omnipresent informational technology, one has no choice but to agree that languages not present on the World Wide Web (WWW) have a meager chance of survival and may have a hard time to remain relevant to the incoming generation. That is why, recognizing their importance, I have decided to support the efforts of Mark Kwidzińsczi and Michôł Òstrowsczi to present Kashubians with their own operating system. I use the Kashubian version of Kubuntu and recognize the tremendous amount of work it took to develop it. Understanding that not everyone has to be a software developer or a translator, what we all can do is to install and use the Kashubian Linux; especially that it can be easily configured for multilingual support (you can read more about Kashubian Linux here). No excuses, if I can do it (my wife speaks Polish, and I use English elsewhere), you can do it too. Make a difference, be proud, be Kashubian!

Yurek Hinz

Kashubian Informational Site » language

Jan Drzeżdżon competition finalists named

Instead of introduction