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Etymology of Silesia

Note: the reader should bear in mind, that Silesia, employing Sil- core is actually used in Latin and English only, while all languages tied to the region use Sle- (as in Polish: Śląsk; Old Polish: Ślążsk[o]; Silesian: Ślůnsk; German: Schlesien; Silesian German: Schläsing; Czech: Slezsko; Slovak: Sliezsko; Kashubian: Sląsk; Upper Sorbian: Šleska; Lower Sorbian: Šlazyńska). Thus most theories explore the second version as supposedly primary, with only one thinking the Sil- core to be original.

Prominent theories:

1. Polish, German and Czech names originate from the river Ślęza, alternatively from Mount Ślęża. This mountain, being a prominent feature on the otherwise flat central part of the region, was deemed to be sacred one, constituting an important heathen religious center ever since Neolithic Period, (esp. Lusatian culture is attributed).

2. Name of the river/mountain is mentioned among many other pre-Indoeuropean toponyms in this part of Europe (see: Old European hydronymy). So it is surmised that local people adopted the existing pre-Indoeuropean name into (Celtic, Germanic and Slavic) languages successively appearing on the territory of Silesia.

3. Historiography accounts of many tribes named from rivers they settled on, while opposite direction is rather rare. This would suggest the Silesian tribe Ślężanie (mentioned by the Bavarian Geographer in 9th century AD).

4. German name of Silesia (Schlesien) is related in works of 19th century German scientists with East Germanic tribe of Silingi, mentioned by Claudius Ptolemaeus in 2nd century. According to them, Silesia and Silingi are etymologically bounded.

5. Polish historian of German origin J.S. Bandtke in his research on Silesian history embraced the toponymic theory of river Ślęza/Mount Ślęża, leading to Slavic Ślężanie. Then, in 1930's W.Semkowicz and M.Rudnickiego carried out linguistic research, stating it is highly improbable that Sil- core (purportedly stemming from the Silingi) could make the transition in:


 * a) „Sleenzane” of Bavarian Geographer ca. 845 AD, or
 * b) „Zlasane” of Prague charter, 1086 AD description of borders of the Prague bishopric by (Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor, or
 * c) „Selenza”, river name in Pope Adrian IV Bull of 1155 AD.

6. Recent research by prof. Jürgen Udolph concur that Śląsk/Schlesien comes from Ślęża, pointing to many Slavic tribes named of the rivers. In his opinion even possible sil- core does not imply Germanic origin, as it is present in many river names outside that area (e.g. Sile in Venetia, Silla in Asturia, Silinka in Russia.

7. While "Silingi" can be attributed no valid meaning, Slavic Śląsk/Slezsko can be easily traced through "Ślęza" to "ślęg"or "ślągwa', Old Polish for "wet swampy place". This is validated by relatively high humidity both of the mountain up to 500 masl and the river flowing through swamps.

8. Renowned Polish linguist, prof. Stanisław Rospond carefully studied documents of 12th and 13th centuries and noticed names of that period to contain the Old Slavic core of ślęg (as in Slesia, Slezia, Zlesensis), while the purportedly Silingi-bound Silesia and Silensis started to appear much later in early modern period, probably due to „reading of Thietmar, for the first time transforming Slavic Śląsk into Silensia, adjusting it to German lettering and phonetics”.

10. Należy zwrócić uwagę na porównanie wymowy nazwy "Śląsk" w językach słowiańskich (Szląsko, Szląsk, Szlesko, Шлеска, górnołużycki Šleska) i germańskich (niem. Schlesien, niemiecko-śląski Schläsing), która pomimo innego zapisu jest zaskakująco podobna w brzmieniu. Dlatego być może nie należy kierować się tylko zapisem, który w dawnych wiekach mógł być błędny w przypadku, gdy nazwę zapisywał ktoś, kto nie władał językiem autochtonów.

Ponieważ powyższe poglądy są różne a nawet wykluczające się, należy pamiętać, że są to tylko hipotezy językoznawców.