Silesian
Quick Summary
Silesian is a West Slavic language closely related to Czech, Slovak, and the Sorbian languages. It is spoken by a portion of the population in the historical region of Silesia, which is now primarily located in southwestern Poland.12
Historically, Silesia was a Polish province that later came under Bohemian, Austrian, and Prussian rule before being largely assigned to Poland after World War II. The region is characterized by the Oder River basin and is bordered by mountains to the southwest and south.2
The classification of Silesian as a distinct language or a dialect of Polish is a subject of debate. Some scholars and Silesian nationalists consider it a separate language, while others, including the Polish government, classify it as a dialect of Polish. In recent censuses, a significant number of people in Poland have identified as Silesian, making it the country's largest ethnic minority.12
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