Minority languages of Croatia
Languages of Croatia | |
---|---|
Minority |
The
The official use of minority languages is defined by relevant
The required 33.3% of the minority population in certain local government units for obligatory introduction of official use of minority languages is considered high, taking into account that The Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities of the Council of Europe considers a threshold from 10% to 20% reasonable.[1] Croatia does not always show favorable views on issues of minority rights but Croatian European Union accession process positively influenced public usage of minority languages.[2]
Official minority languages
Serbian
Education in Serbian is primarily offered in the area of former
Department of
Controversies
In the first years after introduction of new
Italian
The Italian language is an official minority language in Croatia, with many schools and public announcements published in both languages. Croatia's proximity and cultural connections to Italy have led to a relatively large presence of Italians in Croatia. Italians were recognized as a state minority in the Croatian Constitution in two sections: Istrian Italians and Dalmatian Italians. Their numbers drastically decreased following the Istrian–Dalmatian exodus (1943–1960).
Italian minority has realized much greater rights on bilingualism than other minority communities in Croatia.[5] La Voce del Popolo is an Italian-language daily newspaper published by EDIT (EDizioni ITaliane) in the city of Rijeka. Central Library of Italians in Croatia operates as a section of Public library in Pula.[8]
Even though today only 0.43% of the total population is Italian by citizenship, many more are ethnically Italian and a large percentage of Croatians speak Italian, in addition to Croatian. An estimated 14% of Croats speak Italian as a second language, which is one of the highest percentages in the European Union.[9]
Hungarian
In 2004, the Hungarian minority asked for introduction of Hungarian language in town of Beli Manastir as an official language, referring to the rights acquired prior to 1991.[5] Hungarian minority at that time constituted 8,5% of town population.[5] Central Library of Hungarians in Croatia operates as a section of Public library in Beli Manastir.[8]
Czech
6,287 declared Czechs live in Bjelovar-Bilogora County.[10] 70% of them stated that their native language is Czech.[10] Ambassador of Czech Republic in Croatia stated that intention to limit usage of Serbian Cyrillic would negatively affect Czechs and other minorities in Croatia.[11] Central Library of Czechs in Croatia operates as a section of Public library in Daruvar.[8] In an interview in 2011 Zdenka Čuhnil, MP for the Czech and Slovak minorities, stated that Czech minority, based on its acquired rights, have the legal right to use its language in 9 local units (municipalities or towns) while in practice usage of that right is enabled only in one unit and partially in one more.[12] She also stated that in the case of Slovak minority out of 6 units (5 based on acquired rights and one on the basis of proportionality) is free to use its rights only in one.[12]
Slovak
In 2011 there was 11 elementary schools in which students from Slovak minority were able to learn Slovak.[13] Those schools were located in Ilok, Osijek, Soljani, Josipovac Punitovački, Markovac Našički, Jelisavac, Miljevci, Zdenci, Lipovljani and Međurić.[13] Gymnasium in Požega was the first high school in Croatia to introduce Slovak-language education into its elective curriculum.[14] Union of Slovaks in cooperation with the Slovak Cultural Center in Našice publish the magazine Prameň in Slovak.[15] On the 200th anniversary of birth of Štefan Moyses in 1997 Croatian branch of Matica slovenská set a bilingual memorial plate at the building of the Gornji Grad Gymnasium in Zagreb.[16] In 2003 second bilingual plate commemorating the work of Martin Kukučín was set up in Lipik.[16] Matica slovenská in Zagreb published more than 10 books in Slovak over the years.[16] In 1998 Central Library of Slovaks in Croatia was established as a section of Public library in Našice and as of 2016 its users had access to more than 4,000 volumes.[17]
Rusyn
Central Library of Rusyns and Ukrainians in Croatia operates as a section of Public libraries in Zagreb.[8] Library was established on 9 December 1995 and today part of its collection is accessible in public libraries in Vinkovci, Lipovljani, Slavonski Brod, Vukovar and Petrovci.[18]
German
Central Library of Austrians and Germans in Croatia operates as a section of Public library in Osijek.[8]
Yiddish and Hebrew
Organisation Zagreb Yiddish Circle is club that organizes courses in
Ukrainian
Ukrainian-language classes are held in four schools in Lipovljani, Petrovci, Kaniža and Šumeće, attended by about 50 students.[20] Central Library of Rusyns and Ukrainians in Croatia operates as a section of Public libraries in Zagreb.[8] Library was established on 9 December 1995 and today part of its collection is accessible in public libraries in Vinkovci, Lipovljani, Slavonski Brod, Vukovar and Petrovci.[18]
Romani
Croatia previously made a reservation to Article 7.5 of ratification by
Croatian Parliament formally recognised Romani Language Day on May 25, 2012,[23] which was on their initiative also proclaimed by UNESCO in 2015.[24] At the Faculty of Philosophy, University of Zagreb, two courses in the Romani language on the Romani language, literature, culture and history have been taught since November 5, 2012.[21] Central Library of Roma in Croatia was established on 8 June 2020 in Zagreb, and is presently the only such library in Europe.[25]
Istro-Romanian
Other official languages
There are three other central libraries in Croatia. Bosniak's community central library is located in the town of Sisak, Albanian one in Zagreb and Slovenian in Karlovac.[8]
Municipalities with minority languages in official use
List of towns and municipalities with minority languages in official use:[29]
Municipality | Name in minority language | Language | Affected settlements | Introduced based on | Population (2021) | Percentage of affected minority (2021) |
County |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Končanica | Končenice | Czech | All settlements | Constitutional Act | 1,805 | 46.04% | Bjelovar-Bilogora |
Daruvar | Daruvar | Czech | Ljudevit Selo, Daruvar, Donji Daruvar, Gornji Daruvar and Doljani | Town Statute | 10,105 | 20.92% | Bjelovar-Bilogora |
Kneževi Vinogradi | Hercegszöllős | Hungarian | Kneževi Vinogradi, Karanac, Zmajevac, Suza, Kamenac, Kotlina[30] | Constitutional Act | 3,357 | 38.70% | Osijek-Baranja |
Bilje | Bellye | Hungarian | All settlements | Municipality Statute | 4,772 | 25.94% | Osijek-Baranja |
Ernestinovo | Ernestinovo | Hungarian | Laslovo | Municipality Statute | 1,948 | 15.61% | Osijek-Baranja |
Petlovac | Baranyaszentistván | Hungarian | Novi Bezdan | Municipality Statute | 1,874 | 13.02% | Osijek-Baranja |
Tompojevci | Tompojevci | Hungarian | Čakovci | Municipality Statute | 1,116 | 8.06% | Vukovar-Syrmia
|
Tordinci | Tardhoz | Hungarian | Korođ | Municipality Statute | 1,657 | 18.65% | Vukovar-Syrmia
|
Punitovci | Punitovci | Slovak | All settlements | Constitutional Act | 1,562 | 33.16% | Osijek-Baranja |
Našice | Našice | Slovak | Jelisavac | Town Statute | 14,291 | 5.30% | Osijek-Baranja |
Vrbovsko | Врбовско | Serbian | All settlements | Constitutional Act | 3,876 | 32.38% | Primorje-Gorski Kotar |
Vukovar | Вуковар | Serbian | All settlements | Constitutional Act | 23,175 | 29.73% | Vukovar-Syrmia
|
Biskupija | Бискупија | Serbian | All settlements | Constitutional Act | 1,177 | 81.90% | Šibenik-Knin |
Borovo | Борово | Serbian | All settlements | Constitutional Act | 3,555 | 90.69% | Vukovar-Syrmia
|
Civljane | Цивљане | Serbian | All settlements | Constitutional Act | 171 | 73.68% | Šibenik-Knin |
Donji Kukuruzari | Доњи Кукурузари | Serbian | All settlements | Constitutional Act | 1,080 | 31.20% | Sisak-Moslavina |
Dvor | Двор | Serbian | All settlements | Constitutional Act | 2,996 | 67.26% | Sisak-Moslavina |
Erdut | Ердут | Serbian | All settlements | Constitutional Act | 5,436 | 53.68% | Osijek-Baranja |
Ervenik | Ервеник | Serbian | All settlements | Constitutional Act | 789 | 96.96% | Šibenik-Knin |
Gračac | Грачац | Serbian | All settlements | Constitutional Act | 3,136 | 43.37% | Zadar |
Gvozd | Гвозд or Вргинмост | Serbian | All settlements | Constitutional Act | 2,047 | 62.63% | Sisak-Moslavina |
Jagodnjak | Јагодњак | Serbian | All settlements | Constitutional Act | 1,500 | 62.87% | Osijek-Baranja |
Kistanje | Кистање | Serbian | All settlements | Constitutional Act | 2,650 | 51.89% | Šibenik-Knin |
Krnjak | Крњак | Serbian | All settlements | Constitutional Act | 1,332 | 58.03% | Karlovac |
Markušica | Маркушица | Serbian | All settlements | Constitutional Act | 1,773 | 90.24% | Vukovar-Syrmia
|
Negoslavci | Негославци | Serbian | All settlements | Constitutional Act | 983 | 96.85% | Vukovar-Syrmia
|
Plaški | Плашки | Serbian | All settlements | Constitutional Act | 1,650 | 39.76% | Karlovac |
Šodolovci | Шодоловци | Serbian | All settlements | Constitutional Act | 1,217 | 78.06% | Osijek-Baranja |
Trpinja | Трпиња | Serbian | Village Ćelije excluded in municipality Statute[31] | Constitutional Act | 4,167 | 87.81% | Vukovar-Syrmia
|
Udbina | Удбина | Serbian | All settlements | Constitutional Act | 1,334 | 42.65% | Lika-Senj |
Vojnić | Војнић | Serbian | All settlements | Constitutional Act | 3,602 | 38.45% | Karlovac |
Vrhovine | Врховине | Serbian | All settlements | Constitutional Act | 653 | 47.63% | Lika-Senj |
Donji Lapac | Доњи Лапац | Serbian | All settlements | Constitutional Act | 1,366 | 79.21% | Lika-Senj |
Kneževi Vinogradi | Кнежеви Виногради | Serbian | Kneževi Vinogradi and Karanac[30] | Municipality Statute | 3,357 | 16.50% | Osijek-Baranja |
Nijemci | Нијемци | Serbian | Banovci and Vinkovački Banovci
|
Municipality Statute | 3,526 | 8.11% | Vukovar-Syrmia
|
Grožnjan | Grisignana | Italian | All settlements | Constitutional Act | 656 | 35.82% | Istria |
Brtonigla | Verteneglio | Italian | All settlements | Municipality Statute | 1,523 | 31.78% | Istria |
Buje | Buie | Italian | All settlements | Town Statute | 4,441 | 23.85% | Istria |
Cres | Cherso | Italian | All settlements | Town Statute | 2,716 | 1.91% | Primorje-Gorski Kotar |
Novigrad | Cittanova | Italian | All settlements | Town Statute | 3,889 | 8.67% | Istria |
Poreč | Parenzo | Italian | All settlements | Town Statute | 16,607 | 2.54% | Istria |
Pula | Pola | Italian | All settlements | City Statute | 52,220 | 3.56% | Istria |
Rijeka | Fiume | Italian | All settlements | City Statute | 107,964 | 1.45% | Primorje-Gorski Kotar |
Rovinj | Rovigno | Italian | All settlements | Town Statute | 12,968 | 9.31% | Istria |
Umag | Umago | Italian | All settlements | Town Statute | 12,699 | 11.47% | Istria |
Vodnjan | Dignano | Italian | All settlements | Town Statute | 5,838 | 15.01% | Istria |
Bale | Valle d'Istria | Italian | All settlements | Municipality Statute | 1,170 | 20.51% | Istria |
Fažana | Fasana | Italian | All settlements | Municipality Statute | 3,463 | 3.81% | Istria |
Funtana | Fontane | Italian | All settlements | Municipality Statute | 911 | 1.54% | Istria |
Kaštelir-Labinci | Castellier-Santa Domenica | Italian | All settlements | Municipality Statute | 1,493 | 2.21% | Istria |
Ližnjan | Lisignano | Italian | Šišan | Municipality Statute | 4,087 | 3.89% | Istria |
Motovun | Montona | Italian | All settlements | Municipality Statute | 912 | 8.11% | Istria |
Oprtalj | Portole | Italian | All settlements | Municipality Statute | 748 | 10.96% | Istria |
Tar-Vabriga | Torre-Abrega | Italian | All settlements | Municipality Statute | 2,148 | 6.94% | Istria |
Višnjan | Visignano | Italian | Barat and Farini
|
Municipality Statute | 2,096 | 4.10% | Istria |
Vrsar | Orsera | Italian | All settlements | Municipality Statute | 1,923 | 3.02% | Istria |
Bogdanovci | Богдановци | Pannonian Rusyn | Petrovci | Municipality Statute | 1,545 | 19.48% | Vukovar-Syrmia
|
Tompojevci | Томпојевци | Pannonian Rusyn | Mikluševci | Municipality Statute | 1,116 | 16.40% | Vukovar-Syrmia
|
History
During Napoleon I's invasion of Croatia in the early 19th century, a large portion was of the country was converted into the Illyrian Provinces (Provinces illyriennes) and incorporated as a French province in 1809.[32] French rule established the official language of the autonomous province to be French followed by Croatian, Italian, German, and Slovene.[33][34] According to France's Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, about 6% of Croatians are fluent in basic conversation in French.[35]
European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages became a legally binding for Croatia in 1997.[36]
See also
- Minority language
- Languages of Croatia
- Official language
- Demographics of Croatia
- Linguistic rights
- Language policy
- Languages of the European Union
References
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- ^ "Language Policy in Istria, Croatia–Legislation Regarding Minority Language Use, page 61" (PDF). Acta Universitatis Sapientiae, European and Regional Studies, 3 (2013) 47–64. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
- ^ a b c d Snjezana Čiča (April 2016). "Centralna biblioteka Srpskog kulturnog društva "Prosvjeta" – centar kulture Srba u Hrvatskoj". Novosti-Hrvatsko knjižničarsko društvo. Retrieved 22 September 2017.
- ^ a b Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. "The Chair of Serbian and Montenegrin Literature". University of Zagreb. Retrieved 22 September 2017.
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- ^ Directorate General for Education and Culture; Directorate General Press and Communication (2006). Europeans and their Languages (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 April 2016. Retrieved 11 March 2010.
- ^ a b "DAN MATERINJEG JEZIKA". Bjelovar-Bilogora County. 22 February 2015. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
- ^ "Košatka: Reći 'ne može' ćirilici znači biti i protiv Čeha". Večernji list. 18 December 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
- ^ a b Obradović, Stojan (5 November 2011). "Gradovi i općine zloupotrebljavaju stečeno pravo: intervju s Zdenkom Čuhnil". Identitet (in Serbian) (159). Zagreb: Serb Democratic Forum.
- ^ a b Vinco Gazdik (21 May 2011). "Kako žive Slovaci u Hrvatskoj". T-portal. Retrieved 22 September 2017.
- ^ Ljiljana Marić (24 May 2013). "Prva srednja škola u Hrvatskoj u kojoj će se učiti slovački jezik". Večernji list. Retrieved 22 September 2017.
- ^ "Prameň-KULTÚRNO-SPOLOČENSKÝ ČASOPIS SLOVÁKOV V CHORVÁTSKU". Union of Slovaks. Archived from the original on 21 June 2015. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
- ^ a b c "Matica slovačka Zagreb". Matica slovačka Zagreb. Retrieved 22 September 2017.
- ^ Ružica Vinčak (April 2016). "Središnja knjižnica Slovaka radi na povezivanju dvije kulture i dva naroda". Novosti-Hrvatsko knjižničarsko društvo. Retrieved 22 September 2017.
- ^ a b "Središnja knjižnica Rusina i Ukrajinaca Republike Hrvatske". Public libraries of City of Zagreb. Retrieved 22 September 2017.
- ^ "zagreber yidish-krayz (Zagreb Yiddish Circle)-About". Zagreb Yiddish Circle. Retrieved 27 June 2015.
- ^ "Ukrajinci u Republici Hrvatskoj". Embassy of Ukraine in Zagreb. Archived from the original on 29 June 2015. Retrieved 27 June 2015.
- ^ a b "6th Report by the Republic of Croatia on the Application of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages". Zagreb: Government of Croatia. June 2019.
- ^ "Romani and the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages (ECRML)" (docx). ECRML Secretariat. 13 April 2015. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
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(help) - ^ a b "World Roma Language Day marked in Croatian Parliament". Croatian Parliament. 5 November 2014. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
- ^ "Svjetski dan romskog jezika" (in Croatian). Croatian Romani Union "Kali Sara". Retrieved 30 November 2021.
- ^ "Otvorena prva Središnja knjižnica Roma u Hrvatskoj" (in Croatian). Večernji list. 11 June 2020. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
- ^ "Statute of the Istrian Region". Istrian Region. 19 May 2003. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
- ^ "Status Općina Kršan". Municipality of Kršan. 29 July 2009. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
- ^ "La Șușnevița, în Croația, s-a inaugurat prima școală refăcută de Statul Român pentru istroromânii din localitate". 17 November 2017. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
- ^ Government of Croatia (October 2013). "Peto izvješće Republike Hrvatske o primjeni Europske povelje o regionalnim ili manjinskim jezicima" (PDF) (in Croatian). Council of Europe. pp. 34–36. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
- ^ a b "Statut Općine Kneževi Vinogradi, article 15" (PDF). Retrieved 7 August 2015.
- ^ "Statut Općine Trpinja" (PDF). Retrieved 23 June 2015.
- ^ "Croatian-French relations". Retrieved 30 May 2017.
- ^ "Croatian-French relations". Retrieved 2 March 2018.
- ^ "Illyrian Provinces | historical region, Europe". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
- ^ "France and Croatia". Archived from the original on 3 March 2018. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
- ^ "Europe and Croatia are living and protecting multilingualism". GONG (organization). 10 December 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2015.