Impact of new technologies on the dynamics of maintaining the Polish language in the world : in search of a research model

The synthesis of the results of research of the impact of new communications technologies on Polish language maintenance contained in the present paper leads to the conclusion that: 1) members of both the first and second generation of Polish emigrants often choose Polish in the electronic environment, yet less frequently that the language of the country of settlement and 2) traditional language maintenance / shift models are suitable as a point of departure for such research. New electronic communication tools contribute to the maintenance of Polish abroad by affecting the traditional language maintenance / shift factors, such as: Polish language social networks, maintenance / construction of Polish identity and family bonds, access to institutions propagating Polish culture and language, geographical distance to the country of origin and perception of the value of the Polish language.