Sociolinguistic Conditions of the Formation of Belarusian-Polish Areal Community

Abstract

The formation of the Belarusian-Polish interlanguage zonal community which developed as a result of contacts between the language systems took place under adverse sociolinguistic conditions. Analysis of these conditions opens up a perspective allowing the identification of the factors which influenced the present-day areal division of Slavic language territories. The article analyzes the historical conditions in which the Belarusian-Polish language contacts originated and developed in space and time, and defines the status, role and functions of the Belarusian language in the history of Belarusian-Polish interrelations.