This paper asks the question whether the tradition of the educated model of the Polish language still has a chance to be continued by younger generations given the fact that sociological research show that the social classes from the period before 1989 are rather disappearing. On the example of the survey questionnaires distributed among students of Polish studies, the author shows how the young generation of humanists understands the concept of intelligentsia as a social group and if, in her opinion, it differs from the rest of the society in terms of language. Youth perceive intelligentsia as people who are not only educated but also continue pursuing their intellectual development. Their language is characterised by greater erudition and carefulness, they are also expected to be attentive to Polish and use a language that is comprehensible to others. The research showed also that terms such as colloquial language, literary language, etc., used in the questionnaires, are vague.
The aim of this paper is to discuss the problems connected with identity and tradition in the local and global aspect. The text is concerned with, firstly, how these two spheres interrelate at linguistic, cultural and mental levels in the rural and urban reality nowadays and, secondly, how to protect and promote what is local and regional in the globalised world.
The relationship between modern globalisation tendencies and cultural-linguistic legacy of a region boils down to the search for an answer to whether globalisation threatens the traditional system of values and the local identity of “little homeland” or rather upholds it and gives it a broader perspective for development as well as points to its didactic and integrative function. This is ensured by noticing a link between the local world and the global one – namely,tradition.
