The linguistic shape of The Decalogue and Pater Noster in the poetic work of Wincenty Byrski from Kozy

Abstract

The purpose of the article is a linguistic-stylistic analysis of literary versions of two texts which are part of the so-called canon of central prayers: The Decalogue and Pater Noster. The author of poetic paraphrases of these prayers is Wincenty Byrski – an unknown writer from Podbeskidzie, who created his work at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. The conducted analyses demonstrate to what extent the author remained faithful to the canonic shape of both texts as for the range of linguistic means of expression, as well as what kind of innovation he introduced in the area of inflection, syntax, and – above all – lexis and phraseology.