Towards Assimilation, Integration or Separation? On First Names in the Context of Biculturalism and Emigration

Abstract

This article aims to present the motivation behind the first-name choices of parents forming bicultural and binational families (Polish-Moldovan, Polish-Ukrainian, Polish-Belarusian, Polish-Kazakh and Polish-Russian) as well as emigrant families from Moldova, Belarus, Russia and Kazakhstan living in Poland. How these names function in the social space is also described in several settings: at home, among peers and among family living both in and outside Poland. A sociolinguistic perspective allows us to draw conclusions on the relationship between name choice and the parents’ plans for acculturation. The study material was collected mainly via surveys. Additionally, observation of the participants and in-depth interviews were performed. Twenty-six families took part in the study, including 42 children. Some have more than one first name. The material studied revealed a tendency towards complete assimilation in the country of settlement and its culture. However, respondents also declared a desire and attempt to raise bilingual children as well as maintain ties to the emigrant parents’ home country and culture.