The Croatian Tongue
An academic exploration of the standard variety of Serbo-Croatian, its history, features, and official standing.
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Introduction
Linguistic Identity
Croatian is recognized as the standard variety of the Serbo-Croatian language, primarily utilized by the Croat ethnic group. It holds official status as the national language and literary standard in Croatia. Furthermore, it functions as a co-official language in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro, and is recognized as a minority language in several other nations, including Serbia (specifically in Vojvodina) and within the European Union.
Geographical Distribution
The language is native to Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, with significant populations speaking it in Hungary (Bačka region), Montenegro (Bay of Kotor), Romania (Caraș-Severin County), Serbia (Vojvodina), Kosovo (Janjevo), and other neighboring countries, reflecting the historical presence and diaspora of the Croatian people across Southeast Europe.
Writing System
Croatian is predominantly written using the Latin script, specifically adapted through Gaj's Latin alphabet. Historically, it has also been represented using the Glagolitic and Bosnian Cyrillic scripts, though these are less common in contemporary usage.
Historical Development
Early Standardization Efforts
The formalization of a Croatian literary standard began in the mid-18th century, centered on the Neo-Shtokavian dialect. This effort aimed to create a unified linguistic standard, gradually supplanting regional vernaculars like Chakavian and Kajkavian. The Croatian Vukovians played a pivotal role in solidifying the Ijekavian Neo-Shtokavian dialect as the literary standard by the late 19th and early 20th centuries, also establishing a phonological orthography.
The Illyrian Movement
During the 19th century, the Illyrian movement sought to unify South Slavic languages. Ljudevit Gaj, a key figure, standardized the Latin alphabet and advocated for the Neo-Shtokavian dialect as the basis for a common literary language. This initiative, supported by the Vienna Literary Agreement of 1850, laid the groundwork for the unified Serbo-Croatian literary language, influencing the Croatian elite.
Philological Schools
The Zagreb Philological School, influential in the 1860s, drew upon Illyrian ideals to shape Croatian linguistic norms. Despite facing competition from the Rijeka and Zadar schools, its impact was significant until the rise of the Croatian Vukovians later in the century, who further refined the standard.
Key Linguistic Features
Phonology: Ijekavian
A defining characteristic of standard Croatian is its use of the Ijekavian pronunciation, particularly concerning the reflexes of the Proto-Slavic vowel yat. This feature distinguishes it from other standard varieties of the Serbo-Croatian continuum that may use Ekavian or Ikavian pronunciations.
Orthography: Latin Alphabet
Croatian exclusively employs the Latin script, utilizing Gaj's Latin alphabet. This system incorporates specific diacritics to represent all necessary phonemes, ensuring a consistent and phonetic representation of the language.
Lexical Distinctions
While linguistically very similar to Serbian, Bosnian, and Montenegrin, standard Croatian exhibits distinct vocabulary choices for common words. These lexical differences, alongside phonological and grammatical variations, contribute to its unique identity, although the degree of divergence is often debated and sometimes politically amplified.
Official Recognition
National Language
Croatian is the official language of the Republic of Croatia. Its standardization and promotion are overseen by institutions like the Institute of Croatian Language and Linguistics. The annual Month of the Croatian Language (February 21 - March 17) underscores its cultural significance.
European Union Status
Following Croatia's accession, Croatian became an official language of the European Union on July 1, 2013. Consequently, EU official documents and publications are available in Croatian, reflecting its status within the supranational body.
Regional and Minority Recognition
Beyond Croatia, Croatian holds co-official status in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro. It is also recognized as a minority language in Austria (Burgenland), Italy (Molise), Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, and Serbia (Vojvodina), acknowledging the linguistic rights of Croatian communities in these regions.
Sample Text
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, as translated into Croatian, demonstrates the language's structure and vocabulary:
"Sva ljudska bića rađaju se slobodna i jednaka u dostojanstvu i pravima. Ona su obdarena razumom i sviješću te trebaju jedna prema drugima postupati u duhu bratstva."
(English: "All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.")
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References
References
- BiÄaniÄ et al. (2013:55)
- BiÄaniÄ et al. (2013:84)
- BiÄaniÄ et al. 2013, p. 77.
- BiÄaniÄ et al. 2013, p. 78.
- Benjamin W. Fortson IV, Indo-European Language and Culture: An Introduction, 2nd ed. (2010, Blackwell), pg. 431.
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Academic Disclaimer
Important Notice
This content has been generated by an AI model, drawing upon information from Wikipedia and adhering to the specified persona and formatting guidelines. While efforts have been made to ensure accuracy and clarity suitable for a Master's level audience, this material is intended for educational and informational purposes only.
This is not professional linguistic advice. The information presented should not substitute consultation with qualified linguists or language experts. Users are encouraged to consult primary sources and academic literature for definitive linguistic analysis. The creators assume no liability for errors, omissions, or actions taken based on the information provided herein.