“Barbaric Yawp” in Polish

The text examines the Polish reception of Whitman’s “barbaric yawp,” beginning with pre-translational intertextual references made by the influential Polish poet Julian Tuwim (“Poezja,” 1921). Subsequently, the version of the “barbaric yawp” line from the introduction to the selection of Whitman’s poetry (1934) as well as three “proper”translations of the line done much later are analyzed. Problems which the “yawp” causesin the Polish language are discussed against the comprehensive cultural and linguistic background, including the Polish version of the film Dead Poets Society.