TY - JOUR
T1 - The Twofold Role of a Minority Language in Historical Trauma
T2 - The Case of Lemko Minority in Poland
AU - Skrodzka, Magdalena
AU - Hansen, Karolina
AU - Olko, Justyna
AU - Bilewicz, Michał
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2020.
PY - 2020/9/1
Y1 - 2020/9/1
N2 - Tragic collective events bring about long-term consequences for affected groups. These effects not only affect the immediate victims of trauma, but can also influence subsequent generations. In the present research, we examined the effects of minority language use on historical trauma. In a study of 237 Lemko participants, members of a severely victimized ethnic minority in Poland, we tested the effects of cognitive availability of historical trauma on three categories of trauma-related symptoms: emotional, behavioral, and depressive. The study found that minority language use is positively related to cognitive availability of trauma, but it also limits the effects of such availability on trauma-related symptoms. Based on this finding, we discuss the potential of minority language use to act as a social cure protecting from the negative psychological consequences of historical trauma.
AB - Tragic collective events bring about long-term consequences for affected groups. These effects not only affect the immediate victims of trauma, but can also influence subsequent generations. In the present research, we examined the effects of minority language use on historical trauma. In a study of 237 Lemko participants, members of a severely victimized ethnic minority in Poland, we tested the effects of cognitive availability of historical trauma on three categories of trauma-related symptoms: emotional, behavioral, and depressive. The study found that minority language use is positively related to cognitive availability of trauma, but it also limits the effects of such availability on trauma-related symptoms. Based on this finding, we discuss the potential of minority language use to act as a social cure protecting from the negative psychological consequences of historical trauma.
KW - ethnic minority language
KW - historical trauma
KW - Lemkos
KW - social cure
KW - trauma symptoms
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85086365460&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/0261927X20932629
DO - 10.1177/0261927X20932629
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85086365460
SN - 0261-927X
VL - 39
SP - 551
EP - 566
JO - Journal of Language and Social Psychology
JF - Journal of Language and Social Psychology
IS - 4
ER -