'As Poles, we are no longer mono-ethnic, but multi-ethnic. We are internally diverse and we must - whether we want it or not - look for a non-ethnic unifying formula,' said dr hab. Adela Kożyczkowska, prof. UG, who was appointed to the Programme Council of the Institute of Linguistic Diversity of the Republic as of 2 September 2024. The new cultural institution is tasked with nurturing cultural heritage within language, including the languages and dialects of national and ethnic minorities.

The Institute of Linguistic Diversity of the Republic was established at the end of April 2024 on the initiative of Bartłomiej Sienkiewicz, then Minister of Culture and National Heritage. He invited specialists dealing with multilingualism to work on the statute. Among the invited researchers was dr hab. Adela Kożyczkowska, prof. UG from the Institute of Pedagogy of the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Gdańsk. The results of the researchers' work, including the developed concept of the new institution, were fully accepted by the Ministry and included in the Order of the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage of 25 April 2024 on the granting of statutes to the Institute for Linguistic Diversity.

Experts intended the Institute to ‘take care’ of those areas that the 2005 Minorities Act omits (i.e. the Silesian language, Wilamowic or the language of today's economic migrants and refugees from Ukraine). Prof. Kożyczkowska also points out that the Act on Minorities does not promote multilingualism in such a way that it can be considered a politically correct basis for multiculturalism - as it excludes a number of languages both indigenous and immigrant. 'Multilingualism and multiculturalism constructed on inequality are a political misunderstanding,' the expert concludes.

The main objective of the Institute is to popularise knowledge of Poland's linguistic diversity at home and abroad and to document Poland's linguistic heritage. Its tasks also include developing recommendations for language policy at the national and European levels.

'Multilingualism - and consequently multiculturalism, multiethnicity - is a political situation, which on the one hand demands the recognition of difference, while on the other hand prompts one to look at one's own language and culture in a different way,’ explains prof. Adela Kożyczkowska. 'Multilingualism provides the impetus to construct a space in between. This is the greatest wealth of any nation. The fact that it can exist (also learn) on many linguistic and cultural levels: its own language and culture, the languages and cultures of other nations and social groups, but also - and this seems most important to me - a common linguistic and socio-cultural space. Thinking multilingualism in this way constructs multiculturalism, which makes it possible to think differently about one's own nation.'

According to prof. Kożyczkowska, multilingualism and multinationalism present us with the challenge of finding a ‘unifying formula’ that is not based solely on shared ethnicity. She suggests citizenship as an alternative bonding factor.

Since 2 September, by decision of the Minister of Culture and National Heritage Hanna Wróblewska, prof. Adela Kożyczkowska has been a member of the Institute's Programme Council. The Council serves as an advisory body and its tasks include: giving opinions on the Institute's strategy, action programmes and financial plans, giving opinions on the implementation of tasks, assisting in the search for new forms of organisational, conceptual and financial support, and helping to promote the Institute's activities.

'I accepted the appointment with great joy, as the competition was formidable,’ says prof. Kożyczkowska. 'The Council was appointed from among scholars involved in research into the phenomenon of multilingualism, including research into the revitalisation of multilingualism in Poland, which involves, among other things, work to preserve the languages of small communities, such as Kashubian, Silesian, Lemko and Vilamovian.'

We warmly congratulate the Professor and wish her fruitful work in her new position!