Język kaszubski – analiza sytuacji socjolingwistycznej

In this paper, the author presents the language situation of the Kashubian community, and in particular the role of the Kashubian language as the main indicator of the Kashubian identity. Nowadays, the role of the Kashubian language is primarily symbolic: it is used as an everyday communication tool less and less frequently. Despite that, literature is written in this language, each education level is available: from primary school to studies of Kashubian ethnophilology at the University of Gdańsk. The author has depicted the sociolinguistic situation of the Kashubian language, i.e. the regional language in Kashubia, and presented the results of the national censuses carried out in the 21st century and their consequences for the Kashubian community, which does not have the offi cial status of either ethnic or national minority. She has also briefl y described the Polish state policy towards ethnic/national and language minorities.