# Łowicz dialect

The Łowicz dialect or the Księżak dialect is a dialect of Polish spoken by the ethnic group of Łowiczans (Księżaks) inhabiting the historical region known as the Duchy of Łowicz [pl] around the cities of Łowicz and Skierniewice in south-western Masovia. It belongs to the Masovian dialect group and borders the Near Mazovian dialect to the north, the Lesser Polish Masovian Borderland dialect to the east, and the Łęczyca dialect to the south and west.
The classification of the Łowicz dialect is debated. In the past it has been considered a Lesser Polish dialect, but there are many features placing it within the Masovian group. The Łowicz dialect shows many transitional features between Masovia, Lesser Poland and Greater Poland.

## Phonology

Typical of Greater Polish as well as Lesser Polish dialects, voicing of word-final consonants before vowels and liquids is present here, including before clitics. Some villages show devoicing under influence from Standard Polish. Typical of Masovian and Lesser Polish dialects is the presence of mazuration. This process is being undone for many speakers, however forms with mazuration are still dominant.

### Vowels

As in Lesser Polish dialects, i and y lower to e before l and ł: urobieły (urobiły), liceła (liczyła). Similarly, iR, yR can lower to eR. Ablaut is often levelled: gnietły (gniotły), wietraki (wiatraki). Final -ej often shifts to -i / -y, particularly in the comparative of adverbs, the feminine genitive/locative ending -ej, and adverbs like dzisiaj: downi (dawniej), wincy (więcej), ty włody (tej wody), dzisiej (dzisiaj). A few instances of the change of initial ja-, ra- to je-, re- can be found, as in Masovian dialects: redzić (radzić). Mobile e is often inserted: meter (metr).

#### Slanted vowels

Historic slanted vowels are often realized the same as in Standard Polish due to influence from it, but may be realized differently. Slanted á may raise to o or be realized as a, or is sporadically and rarely retained as á. Slanted ó is generally realized as u. Slanted é has lowered and merged with e, where most neighboring dialects raise é to y/i, but inconsistent raising to y (after hard consonants)/i (after soft consonants) may sometimes be heard. Normal e can be seen in adjectival declension replacing historic é, which is typical of Lesser Polish dialects, but reflexes é can also be seen, as in Masovian and more particularly Greater Polish.

#### Nasal vowels

Medially nasal vowels usually raise and decompose before non-sibilants: lyngły (lęgły), winkse (większe), przyglundała (przyglądała) or only raise to į (after soft consonants)/y̨ (after hard consonants) and ų before sibilants. Nasal vowels before l ł may give n: wzino (wzięło), zaceny (zaczęły). Final -ą usually decomposes to -om and sometimes raises to -um: oglądajom (oglądają), najedzum (najedzą). Final -ę usually denasalizes to -e and sometimes raises to -y: na marmolady (na marmoladę), takom jaglanom kase (taką jaglaną kasę). Generally the groups eN and oN often raise, but sometimes oN doesn't: chłopokim (chłopakiem), latym (latem), struny (strony), dónica, donica (donica). oN is most commonly not raised, which is the result of influence of Standard Polish. aN also often raises: nie móm (nie mam). Similarly, iN may sometimes lower to eN, as in Lesser Polish dialects: jendyk (indyk), and uN can lower to óN, oN.

#### Prothesis

Initial o- typically labializes, as does rarely initial u-. Medial -o- may also sporadically labialize, as in Lesser Polish dialects. Initial u- may also gain prothetic j-, as in Greater Polish dialects: juzda (uzda). Initial a-, i- and sometimes medial -a-, -i- may gain a prothetic j-: jiść (iść), strojeły (stroiły).

### Consonants

b may sporadically replace w, typical of Greater Polish dialects: grzyba (grzywa). Many consonant clusters are simplified. kt usually shifts to cht: chtoś (ktoś). n before k usually assimilates and is pronounced velarly, as in Greater Polish and Lesser Polish dialects. chrz changes to krz: krześcijanin (chrześcijanin). strz, zdrz, trz, drz are reduced to szcz, żdż, cz, dż around Głuchów. This is found in Lesser Poland and Greater Poland. dl often shifts to l. św’ may harden, as in Masovian dialects: śwyniom (świniom). li may harden, as in Masovian dialects: ślywki (śliwki). kie and gie harden only sporadically: cuker (cukier). chy may sporadically soften: pod pachi (pod pachy). Soft labials in verb conjugations can often harden, as in Lesser Polish dialects: złame (złamię). tw changes to kw: kwardy (twardy); tch to ćch: ćchórz (tchórz); tw to cw: łacwo (łatwo). These are changes found in Lesser Polish dialects. As in Lesser Polish dialects, s may sometimes be geminated and then sometimes dissimilated: bosso, bosco (boso). w may rarely shift to ł, and w’ to j: dziełosłomb (dziewosłąb), strachoji (strachowi). Sporadic softening may occur. Some instances of this are innovative, others archaic: bibiuły (bibuły), wesielo (wesela).

### Contraction

Verbs often appear in uncontracted forms, as in Masovian dialects: sie bojała (bała się).

## Inflection

Influences from multiple dialect groups can be seen in the inflection.

### Nouns

The masculine dative singular may be -oji instead of -owi due to sound changes. -oju may appear as the masculine singular dative via contamination of -owi and -u, as in Masovian dialects. The instrumental plural ending -ami often hardens to -amy, as in Masovian dialects: przed namy (przed nami). -ów is used as the genitive plural ending regardless of gender. An archaic feminine accusative singular -ą for nouns ending in historic -á is retained: w Wilijom (w Wigilię), na kolacyjo (na kolację). Sometimes neuter nouns ending in -ę have declension levelled, as in Masovian dialects.

### Adjectives, adverbs, pronouns, and numerals

The dative singular of ja (mi) often hardens to my, as in Masovian dialects: jak my powies (jak mi powiesz). Similarly, -ymi/-imi of adjectival declension may also harden: z tymy (z tymi). The instrumental plural endings -ymi/-imi may also harden: z tymy (z tymi).

### Verbs

The past tense may be -uł instead of -ył/-ił due to sound changes. Final -aj shifts to -ej in the imperative of verbs: pogodej (pogadaj). This is common to Lesser Poland and Greater Poland. Some verb forms may appear with a hard consonants due to sound changes: złame (złamię). Some verbs show -ja- instead of -wa-, characteristic of Lesser Polish: dajać (dawać), wstajać (wstawać). Verbs ending in -nąć often do not have -ną-, -nę- in declensions: pragła (pragnęła). The second person plural of verbs is usually -ta: świętujeta (świętujecie), widzieliśta (widzieliście), chowejta (chowajcie). -wa for the first person plural past form and imperative of verbs can be encountered: przemówieliźwa się (przemówiliśmy się), nieśwa (nieśmy). This is typical of Lesser Polish and Masovian dialects. The first person plural imperative may also be formed with -ma, as in Greater Polish: nieśma (nieśmy). The third person plural of verbs may sometimes be -eli instead of Standard Polish -ali, as in Masovian dialects.

### Prepositions and prefixes

The prepositions w, z are often extended with mobile e, as in Greater Polish and Lesser Polish dialects.

## Vocabulary
### Word-Formation

Influences from multiple dialect groups can be seen in the word-formation.

#### Nouns

Diminutives may often be formed with -yszek, -yszko, -yszka, as in Greater Polish. Nouns denoting young animals and people are formed with -ok (< -ák), as in Masovian dialects: źrebok (źrebię).

#### Adjectives

-ejszy may be used for comparatives of adjectives in place of Standard Polish -szy, as in Masovian dialects. However, sometimes -ni can be seen in place of Standard Polish -ny for some adjectives, which is typica of Lesser Polish: tylni (tylny). Similarly, many adjectives may be formed with -ity, -yty, -aty, as in Greater Polish dialects. Numerals often retain archaic -i in declensions, common to Greater Polish and Lesser Polish dialects: pięci (pięciu).

#### Verbs

The prefix roz- often loses initial r-, as in Lesser Polish dialects. Frequentatives are formed with -ywać, as in Standard Polish and Masovian dialects, whereas in Lesser Poland -ować is used more. Secondary frequentatives like strasywało (straszyło) are also present in the dialect. -ać may also be used, which is also typical of Masovian dialects: kupać.

## Syntax

Often the masculine personal gender is merged into masculine animal: jak zyły teście (jak żyli teściowie). Sometimes the respectful plural is used: godali mój dziadek (gadał mój dziadek). The preposition bez is used instead of standard polish przez: bez dziurke (przez dziurkę). Dwa may be used for feminine nouns instead of dwie: dwa świnie (dwie świnie). Masovian na dwór (outside) is used instead of Lesser Polish na pole.