Citations from Mickiewicz in Mrongovius

Bogusław Nowowiejski

Uniwersytet w Białymstoku

Abstract

The article focuses on the citations from the works written by A. Mickiewicz which were used by Mrongovius in the second (1837) and third (1854) editions of his Precise German-Polish dictionary. The author compares both editions, presents and describes similarities as well as differences occurring between them thereon, including the quantitative ones. The latter edition contains altogether more than 120 quotes from the works written by our national bard, including 80 ones that were not recorded before. The author noticed the following facts in particular: 1) both editions most frequently quote two works: Sir Thaddeus (altogether 42 quotes, including 25 new ones) and Dziady Part III (altogether 35 quotes, including 24 new ones), 2) the same quotation illustrates and documents the use of various words, 3) only some quotes are identical to the original, other are abbreviated, modified elliptically or grammatically and lexically, 4) Mrongovius referred to new works by Mickiewicz that had not been quoted in the earlier issue of the dictionary, that is: Konrad Wallenrod, Oda do młodości (Ode to Joy), ballads Lilie (Lilies) and To lubię (That Is What I Like) as well as a translation of Byron’s Giaur, 5) an overwhelming majority of quotes is signified by the abbreviation Mick whereas only 1/5 of the (aa) symbol is contained in the list of abbreviations used in the dictionary.