In the linguistic landscape of the Balkans, a fascinating question has been debated for decades: Are Serbian, Croatian, and Bosnian truly distinct languages or simply variations of a common tongue? This inquiry delves into the historical, cultural, and linguistic factors that shape these languages and their relationships.
Common Ancestry and Mutual Intelligibility
Serbian, Croatian, and Bosnian are all rooted in the South Slavic language group, with their historical origins tracing back to the medieval Old Slavic. These languages share a remarkable degree of mutual intelligibility, which enables speakers of one language to understand the others with relative ease. The common linguistic heritage is underscored by their use of similar grammatical structures, vocabulary, and phonetic features.
The historical context in which these languages developed is vital to understanding their current distinctions. The former Yugoslavia sought to promote a standardized Serbo-Croatian language, aiming to unify the linguistic experiences of its diverse population. This effort contributed to the perception that Serbian, Croatian, and Bosnian are closely related and possibly even the same language.
However, the political changes and conflicts that followed the dissolution of Yugoslavia prompted the emergence of distinct national identities. These newly independent states began emphasizing linguistic variations to assert their unique cultural and national identities. As a result, what was once considered a single entity started to take on separate linguistic forms.
Linguistic Differences and Standardization
While mutual intelligibility remains a key characteristic, there are discernible linguistic differences among Serbian, Croatian, and Bosnian. These differences are primarily reflected in vocabulary choices and, to a lesser extent, grammar and syntax. Each language has developed its own standardized form with specific grammar rules and spelling conventions.
For instance, the use of certain vocabulary might differ due to historical influences. Serbian, for instance, shows traces of Russian and Turkish influence, while Croatian has been shaped by German and Italian. These influences have contributed to distinct nuances in each language's lexicon.
A pluricentric language
A pluricentric language or polycentric language is a language with several interacting codified standard forms, often corresponding to different countries.
Linguist Enisa Kafadar suggests that Serbo-Croatian is a single language with different variations. These variations have been included in new language grammars. Daniel Bunčić believes it's a pluricentric language, with four standard versions spoken in Serbia, Croatia, Montenegro, and Bosnia-Herzegovina. These versions are highly mutually intelligible, even more so than some other languages. The dissolution of Yugoslavia increased Serbo-Croatian's status as a pluricentric language. Despite variations, all standard forms of Serbo-Croatian are based on the same dialect and are considered part of one language. In 2017, notable figures from various countries affirmed that a shared polycentric standard language is used across Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Montenegro, much like German, English, or Spanish.
In 2021, the Serbian Language Standardization Board stated that Serbo-Croatian is one language, labeled as "Serbian language," while "Croatian," "Bosnian," and "Montenegrin" are local names for the same language. This was criticized by Croatia's government and Croatian minority representatives. Linguist Ranko Bugarski called it "absurd" and suggested considering Serbo-Croatian as one language scientifically, but administratively recognizing four languages. Croatia legally recognizes Croatian, Bosnian, and Montenegrin as minority languages, and also approved Bunjevacki as a minority language for education.
Many Croatian linguists believe there were never Serbo-Croatian, only two separate standard languages that partly overlap historically. Snježana Kordić led discussions suggesting that Croatian, Serbian, Bosnian, and Montenegrin are variants of the pluricentric Serbo-Croatian language. This view sparked a significant and intense cultural discussion in Croatian society. German linguist Bernhard Gröschel criticized this view in his book "Serbo-Croatian Between Linguistics and Politics."
Conclusion
In the complex tapestry of the Balkans, the question of whether Serbian, Croatian, and Bosnian are the same language is layered with historical, linguistic, and political complexities. While their shared past and mutual intelligibility suggest a common lineage, the intentional efforts to assert separate identities have given rise to distinctive variations. The linguistic landscape of the Balkans continues to evolve, reflecting the multifaceted nature of culture and nationhood.
