Language of Józef Piłsudski’s texts: Walka rewolucyjna w zaborze rosyjskim. Fakty i wrażenia z ostatnich lat dziesięciu (Revolutionary fight under the Russian rule. Facts and impressions over the last ten years

Abstract

Walka rewolucyjna w zaborze rosyjskim. Fakty i wrażenia z ostatnich lat dziesięciu (Revolutionary fight under the Russian rule. Facts and impressions over the last ten years) is a memorial feature article by Józef Piłsudski presenting the preparation, print, and distribution of the Polish Socialist Party’s underground pamphlets that were illegal under the Russian rule. The text is written in standard general Polish of the turn of the 20th century with a minor share of north borderland regionalisms, idiolectisms, and historisms. The style of the work combines “facts and impressions”, that is a realistic narration with a fictionalised description of various events related to the distribution of underground publications. The author of the feature article presents himself to the reader as an educated person using a language characterised by familiarity with the journalistic style. Keywords: Polish language of the turn of the 20th c. – general Polish language – written text – memorial feature article – idiolect – Józef Piłsudski