Acta Neophilologica

Street Names in Translation – the (In)Significance of Hodonyms in the English Translation of Zygmunt Miłoszewski’s Gniew

Hubert Arentewicz — 2026-06-26

This article explores the role of hodonyms and effects of their translation in Antonia Lloyd-Jones’s English translation of Zygmunt Miłoszewski’s Gniew (2014). The crime fiction novel’s action takes place in Olsztyn and includes numerous source culture references, the main focus of this article being the hodonyms present in the text and their role in culture-creating and achieving immersion. The article examines the conflict between commercial success and cultural representation by analysing select passages containing toponyms – namely street names – and commenting on the loss of cultural signifiers. It also takes into consideration the overall position of peripheral literatures in the European polysystem.

Matters of (Non) Mortality and Flesh – Selected Stanisław Lem’s Neologisms in The Futurological Congress and Their Translations by Michael Kandel

Agnieszka Majcher — 2026-06-26

This paper is part of a cycle of studies on selected thematic groups of neologisms in Lem’s The Futurological Congress. The lexemes’ analysis – at the word-formation level, in the context of communicative and artistic functions of the text, leads to conclusions concerning the translator’s preferred strategies. Kandel demonstrated an understanding of the word-formation nuances and semantics of Lem’s neologisms, yet refrained from using calques, naturalisations, or dictionary equivalents in most of the cases under study. He looked for equivalences at various levels of the text and referred to extra-textual elements. He created neologisms understandable to readers rooted in American culture and strove to reconstruct the intra- and intertextual functions, with the goal of making the text function in the target cultural system.

Literatura rosyjskojęzyczna w przekładach Henryki Broniatowskiej

Grzegorz Ojcewicz — 2026-06-26

The article serves as an introduction to the translation work of Henryka Broniatowska (1920–2010). She worked as a translator between 1950 and 2010, and her oeuvre comprises more than 85 titles, including several texts of major importance to European culture written by Vladimir Maksimov, Victor Pelevin, Vladimir Voinovich, Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, and Sergey Zalygin. The author conducts a quantitative and qualitative analysis of Broniatowska’s translations with regard to their chronology and her selection of Russian-language authors. Attention is drawn to the wide range of literary genres and target audiences represented in her work, from children and young readers to adults. Emphasizing the high quality of Broniatowska’s translations, the author also highlights her tendency to use – at times – rather far-fetched titles for the translated works, thereby modifying the overall concept of the source texts.

Powrót do sonetu. O nowym przekładzie "Sonetów" Williama Shakespeare’a autorstwa Piotra Kondrata

Katarzyna Kozak — 2026-06-26

This article presents a critical review of a recent Polish translation of the sonnets by William Shakespeare, situating it within the broader tradition of their translation in Poland. It briefly outlines the history of Polish renderings, with reference among others to the work of Stanisław Barańczak and Maciej Słomczyński, in order to contextualize the contribution of Piotr Kondrat. Particular attention is given to Kondrat’s innovative approach, especially his decision to preserve the original iambic pentameter, as well as his orientation toward the potential staging of the sonnet cycle. The article compares this translation with earlier versions, highlighting differences in translational strategies, including lexical choices, syntax, and rhythm. Finally, it examines the tension between metrical fidelity and grammatical-semantic accuracy, arguing that Kondrat’s work represents a deliberate compromise that reveals both the limitations and creative possibilities inherent in translating Shakespeare’s sonnets into Polish.

Kontrastive Medienlinguistik: Ansätze, Perspektiven und Befunde

Marcelina Kałasznik — 2026-06-26

This review examines Kontrastive Medienlinguistik (2024) by Roman Opiłowski and situates it within the dynamic development of media linguistics. The monograph offers a systematic account of contrastive approaches to multimodal communication, combining extensive theoretical discussion with methodological models and an empirical case study. Particular attention is given to the analysis of linguistic landscapes in Wrocław and Dresden. The study highlights the importance of comparing media texts across languages, cultures, media types, and time, and outlines key directions for future research.

Wende(n), wohin man sich wendet

Tomasz Waszak — 2026-06-26

The volume entitled Literarische und kulturelle Potenziale der Wende(n) im historischen Blick (Literary and Cultural Potentials of Turn(s): A Historical Overview) contains papers presented at the 2022 Congress of the Middle European Association of Germanists (Mitteleuropäischer Germanistenverband). Although united by the eponymous concept, the collected essays, as might easily be expected, do not contribute to a coherent semantics of “the turn” but rather document the semantic confusion evoked by the term’s various uses. Nevertheless, the value of the book lies in the way it reflects the wide range of research interests and methodological approaches represented in contemporary German studies, not to mention the instructive and surprising details to be found in each contribution.

Między pamięcią historii i zapomnieniem o cierpieniu. Echa "Dochodzenia" Petera Weissa w "Hotel Auschwitz" Corneliusa Schwalma

Jadwiga Gracla — 2026-06-26

In the presented sketch, the author tries to show how the perception and experience of the history and events related to the Shoah change in contemporary German film on the example of Cornelius Schwalm’s "Hotel Auschwitz". The film’s attempt at translating Peter Weiss’ extraordinary play "The Investigation and Journey to Auschwitz" reveals the condition of modern man. He perceives the extermination camp as an image frozen in time, a fragment of history that has already ended and, apart from the fact that it should be remembered and must not be denied, means nothing. It does not arouse reflection, does not scare, does not arouse sympathy for the victims. It’s just history. Which modern man does not want to understand, nor does he want to understand that the responsibility for what happened will never end.

Elves, Crusaders and the Quest for a Plot: An Examination of the Historical and Mythical Inspirations behind Mary Webb’s "Armour Wherein He Trusted"

Trevor Hill — 2026-06-26

"Armour Wherein He Trusted" was Mary Webb’s final novel. Unfinished at her death, it was published posthumously in 1929 and tells the story of a young Saxon knight and his marriage to a mysterious Welsh bride, who claims elfin heritage. While contemporary reviewers were mixed in their criticism, many noted her experimental style, which differed from her previous rural novels, not least in its eleventh-century setting. However, more recent scholars have given the novel little attention or have even been dismissive of it. This article seeks to redress that balance and also proposes new approaches to Webb’s work. In an effort to suggest possible outcomes for the unfinished story, the current author asks whether such gaps in the text may be filled through an examination of potential sources of inspiration, including Shropshire folklore, specifically the legends of the Saxon warrior Wild Edric and his wife Godda, Arthurian legends, and The Mabinogion, something the author believes previous scholars have largely overlooked. The article also analyses how Mary Webb may have drawn inspiration from her own social and family situation in the years leading up to her death.

Góry Harzu w relacjach rosyjskich studentów Uniwersytetu w Getyndze

Magdalena Dąbrowska — 2026-06-26

The paper examines the sketch The Travels of the Russian Students in the Harz… by Alexander Turgenev (1784–1845) and the diary Travel to the Harz in October 1809 by Alexander Mikhailovsky-Danilevsky (1789–1848), focusing on the destinations and routes of their journeys undertaken during their studies at the University of Göttingen. Travel to the Harz and the ascent of the Brocken served an educational purpose rooted in Enlightenment ideals, enabling the authors to acquire knowledge about local mining and smelting practices. The travel accounts by Turgenev and Mikhailovsky-Danilevsky, later prominent historians, provide information not only on mining and metallurgy but also on natural science and history, as well as theoretical reflections – often polemical – on travel and travelers.

Frauenbilder in der frankophonen afrikanischen Literatur – Erfahrungen mit Exklusion und Selbstbehauptung von schwarzafrikanischen Frauenfiguren in französischsprachigen Texten "Le Ventre de l’Atlantique" und "Celles qui attendent" von Fatou Diome

Wilfreid Emmanuel Koung A Sanama — 2026-06-26

The present contribution is conceived as a proposal for greater promotion of empathy, sensitivity, and equality, as well as equal treatment for African women who are affected by social exclusion and discrimination in postcolonial African societies. With regard to the gender question in the African context, it also advocates for a stronger positioning and more intensive engagement with such fictions — specifically the three selected literary texts — within the Francophone and other foreign-language literary landscapes, without excluding other works of fiction.The study seeks to examine to what extent female characters from sub-Saharan Africa are affected by practices of marginalization and subalternity within patriarchal social structures, and which subjective and collective coping strategies they use to make their voices heard and assert themselves. At the center of this analysis, and through the selected literary texts, lies not only an exploration of the everyday lives of oppressed and marginalized Black African women, but also the deconstruction of prevailing negative images and conceptions of women as merely subordinate beings within the hegemonic male mainstream of African contexts.The findings suggest that these Black African female characters are capable of freeing themselves from unequal social structures and achieving self-realization. In order to do justice to this analysis, feminist theory, the womanist approach, and narrative text analysis are employed as the primary methodological frameworks.

Język specjalistyczny a język potoczny w mediach społecznościowych trenerki wokalnej Hannah Byles – język specjalistyczny z obszaru muzyki

Krystian Cichowski — 2026-06-26

The aim of this article is to show the relationship between specialized language and colloquial language and how they coexist in communication on social media. The subject of the analysis are statements by vocal coach Hannah Byles published on YouTube. The material consists of randomly selected excerpts from videos in which the author discusses music-related issues. The analysis focuses on identifying elements of specialized language and comparing them with the vocabulary and features characteristic for colloquial language. The adjustment of the degree of formality and specialization of language in her statements is treated as a conscious effort on the part of the author.

Migrationspolitik im Wandel – eine vergleichende Studie zu migrationspolitischen Narrativen als wahlkampfpolitischer Fragestellung dargestellt am Beispiel der Bundestagswahlprogramme und Slogans der etablierten Parteien 2009 und 2025

Agnieszka Mucha — 2026-06-26

This article focuses on the migration policies of established German parties in the 2009 and 2025 federal election campaigns. The aim of the study is to highlight the change in migration policy narratives in both election years, i.e. over a period of more than 15 years. The analysis, which is based on two sources, the official election manifesto and the election slogan, aims to shed light on all aspects of the migration policy debate, while also attempting to get to the bottom of the trends identified. The work thus contributes to research on political communication and the strategic handling of migration discourses in times of social upheaval, such as the major economic crisis of 2008/2009 or the refugee crisis that began in 2015 and continues to this day.

Exploring First- and Second-Year University Students’ Attitudes towards English Pronunciation

Anna Gralińska-Brawata — 2026-06-26

Pronunciation attitude surveys provide insight into learners’ beliefs about L2 pronunciation, yet few studies examine how these attitudes differ at successive stages of formal pronunciation training. This study compares the attitudes of first- and second-year English majors at the University of Łódź to explore whether exposure to a two-semester pronunciation course is associated with differences in students’ beliefs, self-assessment, and priorities. A total of 112 students completed a 23-item Likert-scale questionnaire addressing the role of pronunciation in language learning, accent preferences, nativeness versus intelligibility, identity, motivation, and self-evaluation. While most attitudes remained stable, significant differences appeared in students’ prioritisation of pronunciation relative to grammar and vocabulary, and in their pronunciation self-assessment. Second-year students also expressed more decisive opinions and a stronger orientation towards the British pronunciation model used in their training. The findings suggest that pronunciation instruction may not radically change core beliefs but can influence how confidently and realistically learners evaluate their own pronunciation.

Rozmowa jako nadrzędny gatunek komunikacji ustnej: od podstaw interakcyjnych do zastosowań dydaktycznych

Katarzyna Kurzawska — 2026-06-26

Conversation, while often perceived as an everyday communicative practice, is in fact the fundamental form of spoken language. This article examines it through four dimensions - interactional, social, didactic and formational - showing how it enables co-construction of meaning, regulation of relationships and development of communicative competence. Drawing on interactional linguistics, pragmatics and language education research, the study highlights both the structural complexity and the formative role of conversation across analogue and digital contexts. It argues that, thanks to its flexibility and reflexivity, conversation remains a key tool for teaching and developing communicative competence in a foreign or second language.