Język w życiu religijnym na Zaolziu
Language in the religious life in Zaolzie

Summary/Abstract: The Zaolzie area, that is the Czech part of Cieszyn Silesia, is characterised by a certain biculturalism and bilingualism. Czechs and Poles have been living here side by side for ages; the Czech and Polish languages and the local dialect have been used here for centuries. With the use of a questionnaire survey conducted among the faithful, priests and pastors of the Roman Catholic Church and the Silesian Evangelical Church of Augsburg Confession, I made an attempt at examining the extent and the role of the mentioned languages and the dialect in the everyday as well as spiritual and religious life of Zaolzie inhabitants. Many perceive an (emotional) difference between using one’s mother tongue and a second language when praying or participating in a service. In spite of that, it is observable that bilingual persons are willing to adjust to the priest/pastor in terms of language but also to the offi cial language of the country in which they reside.

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