Abstract
This study analyses oral testimonies of first-generation immigrants from Czech-speaking areas of Chicago (U.S.A.) who have been living outside the Czech lands for about half a century, focusing on language maintenance, shifts in the Czech language community, and transmission to younger generations. After an introduction to the historic-geographic and socio-cultural context of Czech immigration and characteristics of the respondents the presentation will focus on the situations of contact/communication with the language (such as families, school, work, neighborhood, Czech-American institutions or religious communities).
The presentation discusses environment, as well as diverse situations of speakers' possible contact with Czech, reflected by the respondents, and the importance and influence of national institutions (such as expatriate associations, minority schools, Czech parishes, etc.) for language maintenance in individuals. The expatriates' testimonies reflect the conditions under which they were able to pass the minority language to their children and grandchildren, as well as obstacles (such as mixed marriages, disintegration of Czech communities, influence of American education and media etc.)