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EN
The Polabian language was spoken by the smallest Slav population until the 18th c.; Russian still constitutes the means of communication of the most numerous Slav nation. The history of both languages was also diametrically different - Polabian stayed on the level on a dialect, leaving only a few (transcribed by Germans) texts from the late period of its existence. Whereas Russian did not develop fully until Polabian declined, it then created a rich and varied literature that laid the basis for the formation of a stylistically differentiated literary language. Both languages are imbued with German loan-words. In Polabian they constituted a tool of national enslavement. They penetrated all domains of life, with time gradually driving out native vocabulary. On the contrary, on the Russian territory Germanisms, naming new ideas, filled empty places in the lexical system. In general, they were restricted to specialized vocabulary and writing. Despite the fact that the adaptation of these Germanisms was mainly restricted to phonetics and orthography (the Russian linguistic system in the period of its most intensive invasions, in the 17th and 18th c., was still weakly developed), it played in total rather a positive role in the development of the language. But this role is not to be overestimated. On the extinction or development of a language decide mainly extra-linguistic circumstances.
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Master Polikarp in Slavic countries

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EN
The motif of a conversation with Death, appearing as a human being, was already known in antiquity. A large number of works on this theme appeared in Europe between XII and XVI centuries. Latin originals were often translated into Slavic languages. The interlocutor of Death was often called Polikarp, what could be the name of the original author. The preserved copies of Latin manuscripts state he came from Ireland. Glagolitic Croatian text, preserved in two copies from XV century, is connected with the oldest Latin manuscripts, 'the first editing'. The translator is faithful to the Latin original almost completely. The Polish version, with Latin title 'De morte prologus', has more common features with 'second editing' group of manuscripts, that are somewhat younger. The text in Church-Slavonic Russian from XVI century is thought to be a translation of Polish version, but it is closer to travesty, as following differences suggest: the Polish version being rhymed, and Russian in prose, calling Polikarp in the former 'master', and in the latter 'philosopher', the place from where Death comes in Polish is 'szkola', in Russian: 'tsarstvo' etc. There is a possibility of texts translated from German 'Dvoesloviya/preniya zhivota i smerti' influencing the above-mentioned versions. The German original, through Russian diplomats, came to Novgorod from Lubeck. Even less connected with 'De morte prologus' is - widely considered to be a translation from Polish - XVII century Ukrainian work Slovo o lyutoi smerti... Possibly it is an independent travesty of western Latin themes, that made their way to Ukraine. Czech versions - 'Rozmlauváni cloveka se smrti' from XVIth century and its later version, 'Hádáni cloveka se smrti' in turn, are closer to the Polish dialogue, although they are not connected by the name of the protagonist (like Russian and Croatian versions are). Despite thematic similarity they certainly come from different Latin originals, and what is more, they have a sense of a much different local atmosphere.
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