Język komunikacji a język grupy etnicznej na przykładzie krajów Europy Środkowo-Wschodniej

Abstract

In the article the author analyzes the complex configurations that occurred in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe between the languages of communication there and the languages of particular ethnic groups. It further tries to answer the question of how to define communities defined as national but distinguishable by the use of another language that does not fall within the cultural code of the language of a given nation. The author analyzes the specific political game that takes place around linguistic minorities, which are generally not defined as ethnic minorities, mainly on the example of “Russian-linguistic Ukrainians” in Ukraine. The comparison of the characteristics of selected national minorities inhabiting the eastern part of the Podlaskie Voivodship in Poland is also presented. The article ends with the generalization that the basic direction of action is the legal, political and socio-cultural recognition of cultural diversity as an integral part of the structural character of each society.