Pedmluva

Pedmluva is a term used in some Slavic-language publishing traditions to denote a short introductory text that appears at the beginning of a book or edition. It is closely related to the concepts of foreword or preface, though its exact position and function can vary by tradition and language.

In many cases, a pedmluva is written by someone other than the author, such as a scholar, editor, translator, or a notable reader. Its purpose is to provide context for the work, explain its significance, outline the circumstances of its creation, or situate it within a broader scholarly or literary discussion. It may also acknowledge individuals or institutions that supported the publication.

Content and style of a pedmluva are typically concise and formal. It can summarize the work’s aims, highlight its scholarly or cultural relevance, and note any adaptations, such as editions, translations, or annotations. Unlike the introduction, a pedmluva does not usually describe the structure or content of the book in detail; that function more often belongs to the introduction or to the author’s own notes.

The term’s usage varies by language and publishing tradition. Some traditions distinguish a pedmluva from a preface (often written by the author) and from a foreword (often by a third party), while others use the terms more loosely as stylistic labels for introductory material.

See also: foreword, preface, introduction.