250 years ago, Czech was not widely spoken or respected. It was considered a language of the lower class, an ethnographic curiosity. German was the language of choice for those seeking success and social advancement in the Habsburg Empire. However, the national revival movement in the late 18th and early 19th centuries changed the status of the Czech language. This cultural and political movement sought to revive not only the language, but subsequently also culture and as a result, to create Czech national identity. This was the topic of the new episode of the Czechostacja podcast. Host, Jakub Medek, together with our PI, Karolina Ćwiek-Rogalska, delve into the various stages of the revival, with a focus on Czech history and culture. They explore the lesser-known issues of linguistic formation, as well as the mystification of the manuscripts and the disputes about defining the Czech identity. The question of the Czech-German relations is present as well throughout the episode. By examining these topics, the podcast provides listeners with a deeper understanding of the complexities and nuances of Czech history and culture.
You can listen to the podcast (in Polish) here.