Join CSEEES for a lecture exploring the history and legacy of Polish settlement in Texas and the preservation of the unique Texas Polish dialect. In recognition of America 250, this event highlights the experiences of Polish immigrants and their contributions to the diverse cultural heritage of the United States.
Speaker Bio
Agnieszka Makles received her second MA in 2021 in Foreign Language Teaching from Michigan State University following an earlier MA in Pedagogy from Jan Długosz University in Częstochowa, Poland in 2006. She currently teaches Polish at Rutgers University and has also taught at the University of Texas at Austin, Indiana University, and Princeton University. Her research interests include multiliteracies pedagogy, multimodality, border studies, and the teaching of Less Commonly Taught Languages. Agnieszka is also a co-founder/field researcher in the Texas Polish Dialect Project focused on documenting the language and culture of the Polish community in Texas.
Abstract
In 1854, immigrants from Upper Silesia established Panna Maria, Texas, the first permanent Polish settlement in the United States. For generations, their descendants maintained Polish language and cultural traditions through churches, schools, newspapers, and close-knit communities. However, Americanization, migration, and changing educational practices have contributed to the decline of Texas Polish. This presentation explores the history of Polish Texans and introduces the Texas Polish Dialect Project, established in 2017 to document and preserve the speech of remaining speakers. The project contributes to research on endangered immigrant dialects, heritage language preservation, and the connections between language, identity, and community.
If you have any questions about accessibility or wish to request accommodations, please contact us at cseees@osu.edu. Typically, a two weeks' notice will allow us to provide access.
