The Forgotten Language of Polabian: Uncovering the History and Legacy of a Medieval Slavic Tongue

Polabian is a Slavic language that was spoken in the area of modern-day Germany and Poland, particularly in the region of Mecklenburg and Pomerania. It was spoken by the Slavic population living in these regions between the 8th and 13th centuries.

The name "Polabian" comes from the Latin word "Polabia," which referred to the land inhabited by the Slavs living along the Elbe River. The language is also known as "Slovincian" or "Slovinzian."

Polabian was a West Slavic language, closely related to other languages such as Czech, Slovak, and Polish. It had a significant influence on the development of Germanic languages spoken in the region, particularly Low German and Mecklenburgisch.

Although Polabian is no longer spoken today, it has left a lasting legacy in the cultural and linguistic heritage of the region. Many place names and surnames in Germany and Poland have Slavic roots, and some dialects of German and Polish still retain words and phrases from Polabian.