JĘZYK POLSKI WE WŁOSZECH I W PÓŁNOCNO-WSCHODNICH REGIONACH FRANCJI
The Polish language in Italy and in north-eastern regions of France

Summary/Abstract: The paper presents the situation of the Polish language in Italy and in northeastern regions of France, particularly in Alsace. It refers to important historical facts of the interwar period, the sources and motives of emigration movements that affect the current status. The quoted statistical data prove the physical presence of citizens of Poland in Italy and France, and the sociolinguistic description of emigration circles allows comparisons between both these countries. Apart from specifi c data about places of residence of Polish emigrants, enclaves, cultural and educational activities pursued by Polish communities, the paper enumerates characteristic features of the Polish language used by Poles born in Italy and France. Focusing on the phenomenon of two types of interference: predicted and real, the author invokes a range of examples illustrating mechanisms such as naturalisation, linguistic and cultural integration, bilingualism. What is emphasised is the activity of Polish communities abroad in both countries, despite common disintegrating factors and impact of multilingual communities, and their efforts in maintaining the Polish identity and propagating the Polish language.

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