Metodologiczne i teoretyczne wyzwania badań nad żywotnością etnolingwistyczną grup posługujących się językami kolateralnymi w Polsce

Abstract

This paper presents and discusses the most important methodological challenges of the project “Linguistic diversity in Poland: collateral languages, language-oriented activities, and conceptualization of collective identity” (2021–2026), funded by the National Science Center. These challenges are related to the contestability of the languages studied in the project. It is based on the differentiation between what a “language” is and what a “dialect” is. In the Polish and European acts, linguistic diversity is fully recognized only with regard to those linguistic varieties which are considered independent languages. At the same time, all remaining forms are not taken into consideration. Such subordinate status of different varieties of languages spoken in Poland influences their speakers’ language practices and attitudes. The theory of ethnolinguistic vitality presented in this article is discussed in connection with the situation of five groups that are the objects of this research, namely: Kashubs, Mazurians, Podhalanians, Podlachians, and Silesians.