Literatúry

Literatúry is the plural form of literatúra in Slovak, referring to literature—the body of written works produced by a language or culture. The term encompasses poetry, fiction, drama, essays, and non-fiction, and can denote either a national or regional collection of works or the scholarly field that studies them.

Etymology and usage: The word literatúra derives from Latin litteratura; literatúry forms the plural. In Slovak, the singular literatúra can refer to literature as a concept or to a single work, while literatúry signals the body of literatures or multiple traditions.

Scope and disciplines: Literatúry covers poetry, prose, drama, and non-fiction, including criticism and theory. The study of literatúry involves literary history, analysis of language and form, and the interpretation of themes, genres, and cultural contexts.

History and significance: The development of literatúry traces the evolution of writing from ancient texts to modern and contemporary works. National literatures emerge within communities, reflecting language, education, and publishing. Literature preserves memory, articulates ideas, and shapes identities, while serving as a resource for education and public discourse.

In the modern era, digitization and global connectivity expand access to literatúry and enable cross-border exchange, translation, and comparative study.