The dictation was an ideal opportunity to test one’s knowledge of spelling and punctuation rules, but also excellent fun with the Polish language. The winner and recipient of the Golden Inkwell was Iwona Józefowicz. Hanna Mutlu won the title of first runner-up. Konstanty Ślązak came third in the spelling competition.
While the jury deliberated, Bogatynia-based artists entertained everyone gathered: a vocal group from the Day Centre for People with Disabilities and Seniors, led by Janina Błońska, the Yamayka band, accordionist Gabryś Makarek, vocalist Michalina Buczkowska, and the vocal group of the “Izis” Teachers’ Club.
Moreover, the 3rd Bogatynia Handwriting Competition had already been held, with Teresa Migdał as its winner.
Below we present the text of this year’s dictation:
Pre-election Awakening from a Half-Dream
I proclaim my rule and demand complete obedience. I forbid the preaching of heresy; I tolerate no shoddiness, disgusting nouveau-riche behaviour or dilettantism. I hate hypocrisy, mediocrity and antisocial behaviour. I expect sycophancy, lifelong obedience and professionalism. I will drive away pseudo-specialists and half-wits lying in wait for my seat. There will be no leniency for scoundrels and rogues. The day after tomorrow at dawn, elections will be held in a clearing beneath a rotten oak. Fear seized the forest’s fellow inhabitants. The animals fled so nimbly that complete chaos arose all around. For a while, the brotherhood croaked, shouted and rampaged among the boggy reeds. Shocked by the voters’ attack of fury, the emboldened badger marshal glared at everyone from under his brow and worried about nothing. Meanwhile, a swarm of enraged bees, wasps and hornets flew over his head; nearby passed a horde of ants, countless beetles, several hedgehogs and vipers. He waited for a pack of wolves and a predatory wildcat. He counted on their support. He fell silent because a bedbug suddenly pricked him with its pseudopod. Suddenly, a hawk appeared. This carnivorous predator intended to outwit everyone. Only a chimerical, hysterical and timid freshwater mussel decided to support the candidate. On the way, it met a lively beetle and a grumpy dragonfly. Suddenly, a crack and a crunch could be heard, seemingly coming from everywhere. And the bison, sipping Burgundy wine, played with a bracket fungus and, from beneath half-closed eyelids, watched his unruly friends. More than once he had dreamed of such a pre-election nightmare. But awakening came, rendering his dream of fame and glory futile.
UGiM Bogatynia/ii