The problem of adaptation of the Russian emigrants of the first wave in Czechoslovakia: the language aspect
Nowadays there exist many works dedicated to the Russian Abroad and its multifaceted cultural heritage. The Russian documentary historical and cultural legacy brought by Russian emigrants is the most striking evidence of the spirituality of the Russian emigration; it also demonstrates its significance in preserving the national unity in the emigrant community. Moreover, by reviewing those sources, we can evaluate the role of the Russian emigration in maintaining the historical traditions of the Russian Diaspora. This article will analyze the data connected with the language adaptation of the Russian emigrants of the first wave in the First Republic of Czechoslovakia; it is this aspect that can allow us a deeper look at all the aspects of emigration, as well as provide a possibility to learn about the everyday life of our compatriots in a foreign land. The aim of the research is to study the linguistic adaptation of the Russian emigrants in Czechoslovakia in the interwar period, to reveal their attitude towards the necessity to learn the Czech and Slovak languages and to analyze the methods of mastering those languages. As a result of the study, the author comes to the conclusion that not all emigrants wanted to learn the Czech and Slovak languages; they did not see any need for that, since they were confident they would return to their motherland. However, over time and with no hope of returning, the emigrants who had remained in Czechoslovakia started displaying a growing interest in learning the language and culture of the host country that was to become their second motherland.