https://doi.org/10.1177/0261927X20932629 Journal of Language and Social Psychology 1–16 © The Author(s) 2020 Article reuse guidelines: sagepub.com/journals-permissions DOI: 10.1177/0261927X20932629 journals.sagepub.com/home/jls Special Issue - Language Challenges in the XXI Century The Twofold Role of a Minority Language in Historical Trauma: The Case of Lemko Minority in Poland Magdalena Skrodzka 1 , Karolina Hansen 1 , Justyna Olko 1 , and Michal Bilewicz 1 Abstract Tragic collective events bring about long-term consequences for affected groups. These effects not only affect the immediate victims of trauma, but can also influence subsequent generations. In the present research, we examined the effects of minority language use on historical trauma. In a study of 237 Lemko participants, members of a severely victimized ethnic minority in Poland, we tested the effects of cognitive availability of historical trauma on three categories of trauma-related symptoms: emotional, behavioral, and depressive. The study found that minority language use is positively related to cognitive availability of trauma, but it also limits the effects of such availability on trauma-related symptoms. Based on this finding, we discuss the potential of minority language use to act as a social cure protecting from the negative psychological consequences of historical trauma. Keywords ethnic minority language, historical trauma, trauma symptoms, Lemkos, social cure So let’s respect our word Let’s preserve its form, We lost everything else, Only our language remained. —Rusenko (2010, p. 118) 1 University of Warsaw, Warszawa, Poland Corresponding Author: Michal Bilewicz, Faculty of Psychology, University of Warsaw, ul. Stawki 5/7, Warszawa 00-183, Poland. Email: bilewicz@psych.uw.edu.pl 932629JLS XX X 10.1177/0261927X20932629Journal of Language and Social PsychologySkrodzka et al. research-article 2020