Authors

Discussion

Given the multiple waves of immigration from Slovakia to the UK, the experiences of Slovak migrants remain relatively under-researched compared with other European migrants from similar geographical and sociocultural backgrounds. While some studies have addressed the economic and social factors of Slovak migration (e.g. Baláž & Williams, 2004), linguistic and cultural aspects have been entirely overlooked. 

My study seeks to contribute towards addressing this gap in the literature by following three broad strands: it explores the negotiation and acquisition of new multifaceted identities of Slovak migrant women in the UK, their cultural adaptability, and examines the role of language in these processes.  More specifically, this study aims to analyze the intersections of individual lived experiences of participants steeped in their collective culture, history, values and traditions. It thus seeks connections between participants’ practices and beliefs in their day-to-day lives.

In my exploration I focus on the spectrum of the past, present and future motivations of Slovak migrant women, which have informed their mobility choices, analyse their adaptation processes and practices as well as how they have negotiated their identities in the new socio-cultural environment. 

I also examine how language has informed the initial construction and continuing negotiation of participants’ identity through their discourses: their knowledge of English and willingness to improve it as well as their attitudes towards maintaining Slovak for themselves and their children. 

Finally, their belonging is reflected upon through discourses of their maintenance of traditions they perceive as ‘Slovak’, the values associated with these practices, as well as deliberations on where home is.