OS FATORES DE MANUTENÇÃO E DE SUBSTITUIÇÃO DE LÍNGUA POLONESA NO CONTEXTO RURAL NO PARANÁ (1876 – 2018)

The aim of this article is the analysis of the factors of Polish language maintenance and/or shift among Polish descendants in Brazil, using as an example a linguistic situation of a rural community near Curitiba. Some indications of a Polish language shift process have been observed as a result of a sociolinguistic research held in Colônia Dom Pedro II. The findings of the research show that one of the main factors responsible, at first, for the maintenance and, afterwards, for the language shift in the community were the socio-economic conditions present in the community. The analysis of informants’ linguistic biographies indicates a considerable civilizational change, which started in early 70s of the 20th century and led to a gradual shift from Polish language among the community’s inhabitants. The paper also