Name: Regional language Wymysorys is fighting for survival in Poland | Focus on Europe
Uploaded: 2026-03-15T16:55:01.000Z
Duration: 5 min 23 s
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Adverbs of degree

Besides Polish, he speaks another very unusual language.

Basic passive voice

Wimyssurich is spoken by the Vilamovian minority in the town of Vilamowice in southern Poland.

The Polish government recently moved to officially recognize it as a regional language.

But Poland's president vetoed the law, a move that has sparked controversy.

Some groups don't fit his vision of one nation, language and religion, and they're marginalized.

Timothy Kroll is the leading expert on Wimisurich.

It's disappointing that President Nevrocky has vetoed a law that would have protected Wimisaurus as a Polish cultural and linguistic asset.

But it doesn't change the fact that the language is still spoken and lived here.

Native speakers are now rare, but plenty of people still want to keep the language alive.

Demi Surich has even made the leap to TikTok.

Young speakers are connecting with each other around the world.

The Vivosorisch language was recognized by the Library of Congress in the United States in 2007 and by UNESCO in 2009.

It's also been acknowledged by scholars from around the world, from Australia, Iceland, Canada and Japan.

Back at the rehearsal, Piotrk plays one of the main roles, and his Wimisureh is pretty good.

Piotrk is living proof that Vimy Surrich isn't just slowly fading away.

Sometimes they laugh and call me a weirdo.

But there are also a few people here who join in.

One of my classmates from high school says hello in Vimisorisch.

When we meet, Many people assume Wimisureich is a rare German dialect.

But its history is complex and it's now being explored in the local museum.

Vilamovica was once a largely German town whose inhabitants traded throughout Europe.

Over time, they developed their own distinct language, culture and traditional dress.

But World War II nearly brought all of it to an end.

After the war, the vimisorish language and traditional clothing were banned.

Even people who spoke Vimisarish at home were persecuted.

Piotrk is fascinated by this history and often visits 76 year old Danusha.

As a child, she was forbidden to speak Vimysurich.

Today she sews the minority's once banned traditional costumes.

Technically, Danusha and Piotrk are still breaking the law.

The ban in Wemysoris was never officially lifted.

The theater group dreams that Wimysurich will one day not only be allowed, but even taught in schools.

But for that, Poland's president would have to withdraw his veto.

Conservative President Karl Novrotsky frequently blocks policies proposed by the liberal government.

Both the president and his party Peace declined an interview request.

People aren't easily discouraged, not even by a stubborn president.

A successful first dress rehearsal and proof that for Vimy Zurich, the show will go on.