Montenegrin Unveiled
A comprehensive exploration of the standard variety of Serbo-Croatian spoken in Montenegro, its history, standardization, and sociopolitical context.
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What is Montenegrin?
A Standard Variety
Montenegrin is recognized as the standard variety of the Serbo-Croatian language, primarily used by the Montenegrin people. It is officially designated as the language of Montenegro. Linguistically, it is rooted in the Shtokavian dialect, specifically the Eastern Herzegovinian subdialect, which also forms the basis for the standard forms of Serbian, Croatian, and Bosnian. Historically, the language spoken in Montenegro has been referred to as either Serbian or Montenegrin.
Official Status and Recognition
The formalization of Montenegrin as a distinct standard language gained momentum during the period of Montenegrin independence from Serbia and Montenegro. It was officially established as the language of Montenegro with the adoption of the 2007 Constitution. This move was part of a broader assertion of national identity and self-determination.
Speaker Demographics
According to recent census data (2023), a significant portion of Montenegro's population identifies Montenegrin as their native language, though Serbian remains the most declared mother tongue. This linguistic landscape reflects the complex ethnic and cultural identity within the nation.
Historical Trajectory
Early Literacy and Zeta Period
The origins of Montenegrin literacy trace back to the 9th century, with early evidence of Slavic language use alongside Latin and Greek. The Zeta period saw the dominance of Old Church Slavonic and the Cyrillic script, with significant literary activity centered around Lake Skadar. The Miroslav Gospel, from the 12th century, exemplifies the Zetan redaction of Old Church Slavonic, adapted to the local vernacular.
Vernacular and Standardization Efforts
From the late 15th century onwards, written language increasingly reflected the spoken vernacular. Figures like Andrija Zmajeviฤ and Danilo Petroviฤ Njegoลก contributed to this trend. The phonetic orthographic principle, advocating for writing as spoken, was championed early on, aligning with later reforms by Vuk Stefanoviฤ Karadลพiฤ. Despite the eventual adoption of Karadลพiฤ's model, traditional Montenegrin linguistic features persisted in literary works.
Yugoslav Era and Linguistic Shifts
During the Yugoslav era, particularly between the World Wars, Montenegrin linguistic peculiarities were gradually assimilated into the broader Serbo-Croatian framework. Influential linguists like Aleksandar Beliฤ played a role in codifying norms that favored certain dialectal features, sometimes leading to the suppression of distinct Montenegrin characteristics. Post-World War II developments saw improvements in the language's standing, though formal recognition as "Montenegrin" remained elusive until independence.
Linguistic Classification
Indo-European Roots
Montenegrin belongs to the Indo-European language family, specifically within the Balto-Slavic branch, and more narrowly, the Slavic languages. It is classified under the South Slavic subgroup, sharing common ancestry and structural features with its closely related sister languages.
Dialectal Basis
The language is primarily based on the Shtokavian dialect, a prestige supradialect of Serbo-Croatian. More specifically, it draws from the Eastern Herzegovinian dialect, which is also foundational for Serbian, Croatian, and Bosnian. Additionally, the ZetaโRaลกka dialect, prevalent in southern Montenegro, contributes to the linguistic landscape.
Writing Systems
Dual Alphabets
Montenegrin utilizes both the Latin and Cyrillic scripts. Proponents of the distinct Montenegrin language often favor the Latin alphabet, specifically Gaj's Latin alphabet. The Cyrillic script used is closely related to Serbian Cyrillic.
Distinctive Letters
A notable feature of the proposed Montenegrin orthography is the inclusion of two additional letters in both alphabets: ⟨Ś⟩ (Latin) and ⟨С́⟩ (Cyrillic) to represent the voiceless alveolo-palatal fricative, and ⟨ź⟩ (Latin) and ⟨З́⟩ (Cyrillic) for the voiced alveolar affricate. These are intended to replace the digraphs 'sj' and 'zj' respectively, though their adoption and technical implementation have faced challenges.
Standardization Efforts
Formalization Process
The process of standardizing Montenegrin involved the establishment of the Board for Standardization of the Montenegrin Language by the government in 2008. This body has worked on developing official documents and a Montenegrin Spelling Book, aiming to align the language with international norms. The assignment of ISO codes [cnr] in 2017 marked a significant step in its international recognition.
Challenges and Debates
The standardization process has not been without controversy. Disagreements exist regarding the distinctiveness of Montenegrin from other standard varieties of Serbo-Croatian, and the proposed introduction of new letters has faced technical and linguistic opposition. The political context significantly influences these debates, with language often serving as a marker of national identity.
Speakers and Demographics
Census Data Insights
According to the 2023 census, approximately 34.5% of Montenegro's population declared Montenegrin as their native language, while 43.2% identified Serbian as their mother tongue. This data highlights the linguistic diversity and the ongoing discussion surrounding language identity in the country.
Sociolinguistic Context
The question of language in Montenegro is deeply intertwined with national identity and political discourse. While linguists may view Montenegrin as a variety within a pluricentric Serbo-Croatian system, proponents emphasize the right to self-determination and the distinct cultural and historical context that shapes the language's identity.
Literary Heritage
Key Figures and Works
Montenegrin literary tradition is rich, with significant works from authors like Petar II Petroviฤ Njegoลก, whose epic poem "The Mountain Wreath" (Gorski vijenac) is a cornerstone of Montenegrin literature. Marko Miljanov and others also contributed significantly, often writing in the vernacular, which reflected the evolving linguistic landscape.
Dialectal Influence
The literary language has historically shown influences from various dialects, including the ZetaโSouth Raลกka dialect characteristic of Montenegro, and the Eastern Herzegovinian dialect that formed the basis of the Serbian standard. Adaptations made by authors like Njegoลก to align with Vuk Karadลพiฤ's reforms illustrate the dynamic interplay between vernacular usage and standardization efforts.
Language Politics
Self-Determination and Identity
The assertion of Montenegrin as a distinct language is often framed as a matter of national self-determination. Proponents argue that it reflects the right of the Montenegrin people to name and define their own language, rather than an attempt to artificially create a new one. This perspective aligns with the broader movement for Montenegrin independence.
Common Language Debate
A significant development in this discourse is the Declaration on the Common Language, signed by prominent figures from across the former Yugoslavia. This declaration posits the existence of a single, polycentric standard language used in Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Montenegro, similar to other pluricentric languages like German or English. This view challenges the notion of Montenegrin as a fundamentally separate language.
Sample Text
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights serves as a benchmark for linguistic comparison. Below are its renderings in Montenegrin (Latin and Cyrillic scripts) and English, illustrating the language's structure and vocabulary.
"Sva ljudska biฤa raฤaju se slobodna i jednaka u dostojanstvu i pravima. Ona su obdarena razumom i savjeลกฤu i jedni prema drugima treba da postupaju u duhu bratstva."
Montenegrin Cyrillic:
"ะกะฒะฐ ััะดัะบะฐ ะฑะธัะฐ ัะฐัะฐัั ัะต ัะปะพะฑะพะดะฝะฐ ะธ ัะตะดะฝะฐะบะฐ ั ะดะพััะพัะฐะฝััะฒั ะธ ะฟัะฐะฒะธะผะฐ. ะะฝะฐ ัั ะพะฑะดะฐัะตะฝะฐ ัะฐะทัะผะพะผ ะธ ัะฐะฒัะตััั ะธ ัะตะดะฝะธ ะฟัะตะผะฐ ะดััะณะธะผะฐ ััะตะฑะฐ ะดะฐ ะฟะพัััะฟะฐัั ั ะดัั ั ะฑัะฐัััะฒะฐ."
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
- (in Serbian) "Poรยelo otpuร ยกtanje profesora srpskog", Glas Javnosti, 17 September 2004.
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Important Notice
This content has been generated by an AI model and is intended for informational and educational purposes only. It is based on data sourced from Wikipedia and aims to provide a comprehensive overview. However, the AI cannot guarantee the absolute accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of the information presented.
This is not professional linguistic advice. The information provided herein should not be considered a substitute for consultation with qualified linguists, historians, or cultural experts. Language is a dynamic and complex field, and interpretations can vary. Always consult authoritative sources and experts for definitive linguistic analysis or historical context.
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