Czechs in Texas: A Historical Analysis of Czech Language Maintenance among the Early Immigrants and Their Descendents

Bc. Pavlína Pintová

Bachelor's thesis

Abstract:

Bakalářská práce pojednává o českých imigrantech v Texasu. Zaměřuje se na vývoj a zachování českého jazyka mezi imigranty a jejich potomky. Práce zahrnuje stručný přehled historie české migrace do Texasu, postupnou asimilaci jazyka, vliv českého tisku a nejvýznamnějších novin Svoboda. Také obsahuje přehled a vývoj institucí, které měly vliv na udržení češtiny v Texasu (školy a univerzity, české organizace a náboženství). Je zkoumán vývoj a asimilace jazyka včetně vyhlídek do budoucna. Čeština se v Texasu udržela do jisté míry až do dnešní doby.

Abstract:

The thesis deals with Czech immigration to Texas and Czech language maintenance in particular. The Czech language has been used among the early immigrants and their descendents for an unusually long time and therefore the thesis focuses on the maintenance of Czech language in the immigrant community in Texas. It includes a brief survey of the history of Czech immigration to the state; gradual assimilation concerning language; the influence of the Czech press and its most important newspaper Svoboda. The last part is devoted to the schools and universities, ethnic organizations and religion which affected Czech language use at time. It explores the development and assimilation of Czech in Texas and also tackles the prospects for the future. Czech immigrants in Texas have maintained their language to some degree until today.

Keywords

Texas Czechs, immigration, Czech language, assimilation, immigrant press, Augustin Haidušek, Svoboda newspaper

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 6. 5. 2009

Thesis defence

• Date of defence: 17. 6. 2009
• Supervisor: Mgr. et Mgr. Kateřina Prajznerová, M.A.

Masaryk University

Faculty of Arts

Bachelor programme / field:
Philology / English Language and Literature