The Language of the Bilingual Population in the Podlasie Region

Abstract

The examination of the Podlasie region is essential due to multiculturalism in the area, which, on the one hand, determines the richness of the region, and on the other, leads to difficulties in identifying the population’s nationality. The national awareness of the Podlasie region has not been shaped only by the linguistic criterion: East Slavs most often identify themselves with the Belarusian nation. The main objective of the article is to investigate the Polish–East Slavic linguistic interference and to analyse behaviour patterns in bilingual communities of the multicultural borderland, including the necessity to select the appropriate language in various social situations. It is possible to observe an ongoing process of stronger assimilation of East Slavs through actions aimed at integrating them into Polish-speaking communities.