W poszukiwaniu tzw. centrum toponimii (wczesno)słowiańskiej – przypadek ziem polskich. Cz. I

This two-part paper presents the theoretical assumptions, and gives an account of the current progress of a Slavistic appendix which is being prepared by the present author for an as yet unwritten Dictionary of Polish topolexemes, an attempt to inventory and describe the entire lexical deposit of potentially Proto-Slavic origin contained in Polish place and terrain names. The aim of this research is to determine, based on the varying degree of its preservation in the toponymy of different regions, the place where Proto-Slavic vocabulary was formed. The first part presents the history of research together with a criticism of previous attempts, and explains the main methodological rules, focusing on the reconstruction of words which are not attested in Polish as appellatives. It also discusses the state of the source base, and problems which arise during work with various types of Polish toponomastic sources.