Язык - литература - идентичность : современный лемковский дискурс

This paper looks into the obligations that stem from the usage of the concept "Lemko" (a researcher's obligation), as well as from the conscious, responsible existence in the Lemko culture which is based on the ethos of persistence (an obligation for the bearers of Lemko tradition). It explores the main discursive and pragmatic tendencies that exist in the contemporary Lemko culture. One of these tendencies finds its source in indigenous traditions, the most important of which are the age-long attachment to the Lemko culture. The opposite tendency is the free choice of cultural elements which one would liek to practice, most often in the scenic form which is non-territorial, attractive, and ideological. The battle to maintain the value of the past into the future is waged, first of all, in the sphere of language. The Lemko language is nowadays strongly endangered, not only because of the interruption of the intergenerational transmission, but also because of its scenic, demonstrative, non-indigenous, Polonized form, which ousts the Lemko culture, introducing the Polish culture under its name. One could consider that other form to be more promising, sinceit is open, accessible to everybody, not demending, associated with choice and modernity. However, it is ideologized, and views the Lemko culture as a consequence of one's birth from Lemko parents, which is a sufficient legitimization for using Lemko exoticism as an attraction. On the contrary, considering oneself a Lemko is grounded in the upholding of the culture, language, and unique values of one's tradition. All this is not given to a personthrough birth, but is a result of conscious revitalizing action based on knowledge and education. It turns out, the people who engage in these actions are not only of Lemko origin, but are also those who understand the importance of the preservation for the present and the future of those cultural values that throughout many years have been shaped as Lemko values. Thus, the openess based on ethos, and not an attraction, is being created. Prof. Henryk Fontański is one of such people who build, strengthen, and revitalize the indigenous Lemko culture, not out of a family obligation, but because of human conscience and the understanding the necessity to preserve and revitalize endangered cultures.