Prūsijos valdžios aktų vertimo į lietuvių kalbą bylos atodangos: vienos polemikos istorija | On a Dispute over the Translation of Prussian Government Decrees Published in Lithuanian in the Late-18th Century

Abstract

The practice of translating government decrees into Lithuanian and publishing them for Lithuanianspeakers living in Prussia has been known since the late 16th century. It stemmed from the policyof multi-lingualism which emerged under Duke Albert, and the establishment of the Reformation inPrussia. Most Lithuanian translations of Prussian government decrees known today date from the18th century. At that time, the best experts in the Lithuanian language were engaged in their translationand publication. After the potential of Konigsberg in Lithuanian studies declined in the secondhalf of the 18th century, efforts to concentrate these activities in the area of Prussia that was stilldensely inhabited by Lithuanian speakers and called Lithuania at that time, became more active.The article analyses how this change was exploited by the Mielcke family, who were active in PrussianLithuania. Christian Gottlieb Mielcke, who held a humble cantor’s position in the remote parishof Pillkallen, initiated a discussion on the principles of the edition of Lithuanian hymnals in 1781. Hisbrother Daniel Friedrich, the priest at Ragnit, wrote a complaint about the quality of translations ofgovernment decrees into Lithuanian in 1788. This was the beginning of a dispute that eventuallyinvolved the Mielcke family in the translation of government decrees. KEY WORDS: Prussia, Prussian Lithuanian, dispute, translation of Prussian government decreesinto Lithuanian, Christian Gottlieb Mielcke.