Interkomprehensja języków słowiańskich jako czynnik motywujący do uczenia się języka górnołużyckiego dla uczniów Gimnazjum Górnołużyckiego pochodzących z niemieckojęzycznych rodzin

Abstract

The article is based on the research carried out among German-speaking students of the 10th and 11th grade of the Upper Sorbian Grammar School in Bautzen/Budyšin. The analysis concerns the way in which students who are learning Sor­bian at school perceive mutual intelligibility of the Slavic languages as a motivat­ing factor in their learning and using Sorbian. Two types of motivation language learning are described: the integrative and the instrumental kind. While integra­tive motivation seems not to play an essential role for Upper Sorbian Grammar School students as they are separated from Sorbian native-speakers, the instru­mental role is much more important. The evidence gathered in the research shows that Slavic languages intercomprehension is in some cases taken advantage of by students when they travel to the Czech Republic or to Poland. This may also facil­itate finding a job or studying abroad in Slavic countries.