Slavic Roots: Polabian is part of the West Slavic branch of the Slavic languages, closely related to Czech and Slovak, emphasizing its connection to the greater Slavic family.
Medieval Inscription: The earliest written records of Polabian appear in the form of glosses and vocabulary lists, notably around the 12th and 13th centuries in texts like the "Chronicon Slavorum."
Influence of Germanization: Over centuries, the language faced significant pressure from German society, leading to a gradual decline in fluency among the Polabian people.
Grammatical Features
The structure and grammar of Polabian provide valuable insights into Slavic linguistics. Here are some interesting grammatical characteristics: