The team led by Dr Justyna Olko from the Faculty of Artes Liberales of the University of Warsaw (UW) published the results of research on the ethnolinguistic vitality of the Kashubian minority in Poland.

The article entitled “From Discouragement to Self-Empowerment. Insights from an ethnolinguistic vitality survey among the Kashubs in Poland” was published in the online scientific journal PLOS ONE.

The ethnolinguistic vitality is related to the possibility of practicing behavior specific to a given group, including the use of one’s own language, and the active participation of this community in the life of society.

Research indicates the existence of two interrelated levels of vitality in relation to the Kashubian minority: individual level, which is reflected by the language use and is shaped by personal experiences, emotions and language proficiency, and collective level- related to the perception of the strength and status of the group and its language.

Research has shown that Kashubs have developed an emotional bond with the Kashubian language. Increased use of it is a conscious act of self-determination and commitment.