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| Languages of Slovenia | |
|---|---|
 Most spoken languages in Slovenia (Census 2002) | |
| Official | Slovene |
| Regional | Official Hungarian, Italian |
| Foreign | English, German |
| Keyboard layout | ex-Yugoslavia QWERTZ |
The official and national language of the Republic of Slovenia is Slovene, which is spoken by a large majority of the population. It is also known, in English, as Slovenian. Two minority languages, namely Hungarian and Italian, are recognised as co-official languages and accordingly protected in their residential municipalities. Other significant language is Serbo-Croatian and its variants, spoken by most immigrants from former Yugoslavia and their descendants. The most often taught foreign languages are English, German, and Italian.
According to the 2002 census, the population of Slovenia is very homogenous—Slovene is the first language of 87.7% of the inhabitants. It is followed by Croatian (2.8%), Serbo-Croatian (1.8%), Serbian (1.6%) and Bosnian (1.6%). Italian and Hungarian language, protected by the Constitution of Slovenia, have lower numbers of native speakers.
Slovene
In its Article 11, the Constitution of Slovenia stipulates that Slovene is to be the sole official and national language throughout the country. The Public Use of the Slovene Language Act of 2004 further defines the legal status of Slovene, by mandating that national and local authorities are compelled to use it in communication and legislation. As a national language, it is used on the obverse side of Slovenian euro coins, in Slovenian national anthem, by The Slovenian President, and uniquely represents Slovene culture on the international stage.
Television and radio broadcasts, newspapers, commercials, user manuals, and other printed or broadcast material must be in Slovene. Usage of material in another language is permitted, if it is accordingly subtitled, dubbed or translated. Publishing or broadcasting untranslated material, as well as selling goods without instructions and declaration in Slovene, is punishable and banned by law. Also, names of corporations and trademarks registered in Slovenia must be in Slovene; however, they may be used along with the translated name in another language if its aimed at foreign markets.
Slovene is the language of instruction at all levels of schooling, from primary to tertiary education. There is an international high school in Ljubljana with English as the language of instruction, but it admits only students from foreign diplomats and Slovenes who had been schooled abroad for several years. Undergraduate courses are run in Slovene, therefore applicants from foreign countries must prove an adequate level of knowledge of Slovene to be eligible to enroll. Graduate courses for foreign exchange students are offered in English, as well.
The Centre for Slovene as a Second/Foreign Language encourages the learning of Slovene as foreign language, offers different courses in Slovene, and grants certificates of language proficiency. One may sit for the Slovene Language Exam at three levels: Basic, Intermediate and Advanced. After having passed the exam, the applicant receives the certificate of knowledge of the Slovene language, issued by the Faculty of Arts of University of Ljubljana, which is valid throughout the European Union, and makes the holder eligible to apply to any school or university in Slovenia.
With the accession of Slovenia to the European Union on May 1, 2004, Slovene became an official language of the European Union, requiring that all Acts and Directives be translated into Slovene. Additionally, Slovenian citizens may write to any EU institution in Slovene and expect a response in the same language.
Italian
Italian is officially recognised as the mother tongue of the protected Italian minority and co-official language in Slovenian Istria near the Slovenian-Italian border and at the Slovenian coastline. Public usage of Italian is permitted and protected by minority protection laws. Members of the Italian minority are entitled to primary and secondary education in their native language, as well as to radio and television programmes in Italian, and to communicating in Italian with the authorities.
Hungarian
Hungarian is officially recognised as the mother tongue of protected Hungarian minority in Prekmurje region near the Slovenian-Hungarian border. Public usage of Hungarian is permitted and protected by minority protection laws. Members of Hungarian minority are entitled to primary and secondary education in their native language, as well to radio and occasional television broadcast in Hungarian, and to communicating in Hungarian with the authorities.
Serbo-Croatian
During the time of its membership in Yugoslavia, Slovenia represented the most viable economy in the alliance and many citizens from Southern republics were sent/came to work in the country, most notably those from Bosnia. In 1991, a short and bloodless secession from Yugoslavia and a subsequent quick transition from socialism to a market economy. Many people sought refuge in Slovenia during the Yugoslav wars that took place throughout the 90s and early 2000s in Serbia, Croatia, and Bosnia; as a result, the vast majority of immigrants speak Serbo-Croatian.
There is a small Serbo-Croatian speaking community in White Carniola, whose existence predates Yugoslavia. In four villages (Miliči, Bojanci, Marindol and Paunoviči), people speak the Eastern Herzegovinian dialect, with a strong influence of Slovene. People living there are descendants of Uskoks, guerilla warriors against Ottoman invasions.
Prekmurian
Main article: Prekmurian dialectPrekmurian is specific dialect of the Slovene language with its own standard and literature. The Slovene Philology also except of the other Slovene dialects. István Küzmics and Miklós Küzmics translated the New Testament into Prekmurian in the 18th century. Today Feri Lainšček, Milan Zrinski, Milan Vincetič and others also write in Prekmurian.
The Prekmurian standard language was largely neglected after World War II. Prominent old writers in Prekmurian maintained that Prekmurian a language. In Communist Yugoslavia, Prekmurian was looked down upon because several writers were anti-communists.
Other immigrant languages
Other languages, spoken by immigrants, include: Romani, Macedonian, and Albanian. However none of those other languages have been granted any legal status; though officials can be seen to unofficially accommodate them as their knowledge allows.
Foreign languages
Historically, German was the lingua franca of Central European space and was perceived as the language of commerce, science and literature in Slovenia. Consequently, German used to be the first foreign language taught in schools. With the formation of Yugoslavia, Serbo-Croatian became the language of federal authorities and the first foreign language taught in school.
Nowadays, English has superseded it and is taught as the first foreign language throughout the country from pre-school onwards. German has, however, retained its strong position as an important language and is the most common second foreign language in high schools. Other second foreign languages are Italian, Spanish, French and Hungarian. Among the five subjects in the Slovenian finishing exam (Matura), one foreign language—most commonly English—is compulsory.
As a consequence of different foreign languages having been taught at different times, there is no prevailing foreign language knowledge in Slovenia. Younger generations know English and Serbo-Croatian well enough to communicate, whereas elder generations speak Serbo-Croatian better. There are also regional differences, especially among the knowledge of a second foreign language, with German being more frequently taught and used in Styria region, whereas residents of the Littoral region have better familiarity with Italian.
References
- Population of Slovenia Census 2002 results
- Constitution of the Republic of Slovenia
- Public Use of the Slovene Language Act of 2004
- Matura Examination Act of 2003
Notes
- "Raziskava Položaj in status pripadnikov narodov nekdanje Jugoslavije vRS.pdf" (pdf) (in Slovene).
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link) - "Ukaz o razglasitvi Zakona o javni rabi slovenščine (ZJRS)" (in Slovene).
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link) - Centre for Slovene as a Second/Foreign Language
- Template:Sl icon http://www.inv.si/DocDir/projekti/percepcija_slo_int_pol_Bela_krajina_koncni_2.pdf
- Feri Lainšček, pisatelj in pesnik (mladina.si)
- "Zame prekmurščina ni narečje, temveč jezik" (vecer.com)
- Franci Just: Med verzuško in pesmijo, Poezija Prekmurja v prvi polovici 20. stoletja, Franc-Franc Murska Sobota 2000. ISBN 961-219-025-9 →“Pride čas, i ne je daleč, gda bomo vu našem maternom jeziki čteli dobra, čedna, poštena, düši i teli hasnovita dela,” 26.-53. p.; “Kak dugo bomo pisali ešče v našem jeziki,” 72.-81. p.
- Jožef Smej: Pisatelj Miško Kranjec in župnik Danijel Halas; Stopinje 2005. 32.-46. p.
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