Language A Key Bonding Element Through The Years

By Catherine Mlynarczyk

My very first recollection of attending a function at Nest 580, Pittsfield, Mass., was the language being spoken at our Nest. Whether at a meeting or a banquet, the conversations, discussions or meetings were always in Polish. My father was first-generation born in Pittsfield, and my mother was first-generation born in Rockville, Conn. Polish was the main language spoken in their homes, and English was taught to them in the public school system.

By the time my sister and I were born, only English was spoken in our home. When elderly friends and family would drop by for a visit, the language would immediately change to Polish as that was the language our visitors were most comfortable with.

As I would listen to these conversations, I realized this was my family, grandparents, elderly aunts and uncles and their friends. My mother and father spoke their language, and our visitors were always comfortable speaking with them. As young as I was, I realized once these visitors left our home they were going out into a world where there weren’t many people who could speak their language. How would they get along?

This was also true at our Polish Falcon Hall. When one visited the Club rooms, there were no conversations in English. It wasn’t long before I noticed that our elderly family members and friends were having conversations in broken English. Our meetings were conducted in Polish, and the minutes were taken in Polish. As time went on, there wasn’t anyone left who could take the minutes in Polish.

As time continued to go by, the language went to broken English and then to English only. Polish has become as foreign now as English was in the earlier years at our Club. Never once did our ancestors believe that the country should change to accommodate their language, but rather they should change to accommodate their country.