Socioetnická a jazyková situácia slovenskej mládeže žijúcej v Rumunsku (primárne výsledky empirického výskumu)
Socioethnic and language situation of Slovakian youth living in Romania (primary results of empirical research)

Summary/Abstract: During time period 2009-2016 two interdisciplinary research projects were carried out with focus on the sociolinguistic situation of the Slovakian youth living in the Lowlands. Both projects were interconnected on the base of thematic orientation and methodology and focused on the language-communication behavior of the Slovakian youth in situational context of intra-ethnic use of spoken Slovak in Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, and Romania. Basic conditions for respondent’s inclusion into research samples were: Slovakian origin (nationality and mother tongue of parents); spoken Slovak command on the level of workaday, ordinary communication; quota selection according to gender, age, and education (younger group N=70 15-19 of age, secondary school students mostly and older group, N=37 20-25 of age, university students mostly). Participants were selected in the secondary schools and universities with Slovakian language lecturers, eventually culturally oriented organizations, unions and clubs, in which youth associates and uses Slovakian language as communication tool. The main instrument used for data collection were structured questionnaire which consisted of questions oriented on the language/communication behaviour in the formal (public) and informal (family) settings. In this article we concentrate on the results connected with Slovakian youth living in Romania, namely in two regions: Bihor and Nadlak. Our aim is to introduce this language group on the level of basic sociolinguistic and ethno-cultural characteristics, namely 9 indicators: language behaviour; situational Slovak language usage (in school and out of school); communicational knowledge of language variety; impact of communicational knowledge of Slovak language on relationships strengthening; language code switching; language improvement; personal value of mother tongue; attitudes to the functions of mother tongue; ethno-cultural development indicator. Obtained data were analysed in SPSS 21 statistical package. Results connected with language behaviour in the formal and informal environment confirmed majority of tendency to communicate in Slovak language, especially in the family settings. Preference of mother tongue as personal value is very high. Slovak language usage is frequent in communication inside but also outside the school. Significant connection between age and communication outside school settings were confirmed - the younger group more frequently uses Slovak language in ordinary communication. According to the expressions of respondents, communicational knowledge of all monitored language forms (three Slovakian varieties and Romanian language) is high. Significant connections between Slovak language command and family relationships and also peer relationships were confirmed, and these ties in the case of family settings were stronger for women. Language code switching, transition from one language to another is dominantly determined by language competencies of both sides (communicators and recipients) and less by thematic aspect of conversation. More frequent described switch was from Slovak to Romanian as reverse. Respondent’s opinion about existing possibilities for Slovak language improvement is overwhelmingly positive and most of them expressed necessity of such kind of activity. Young people’s preference of mother tongue as personal value is high, and also their attitudes to the functions of mother tongue. Ethno-cultural indicator also reflected respondent’s predominantly positive attitudes to the national cultural development, mother tongue knowledge improvement, and minority school system development.

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