Slovene language

"Slovenščina" redirects here. For the West Slavic language spoken in Slovakia, see Slovak language.

Slovene
Slovenian
slovenščina, slovenski jezik
Pronunciation[slɔˈʋèːnʃtʃina],[1] [slɔˈʋèːnski ˈjɛ̀ːzik][2][3]
Native toSlovenia
Italy (Friuli-Venezia Giulia)
Austria (Carinthia and Styria
Hungary (Vas County)
EthnicitySlovenes
Native speakers
2.5 million (2010)[4]
Dialects
Latin (Slovene alphabet)
Slovene Braille
Official status
Official language in
 Slovenia
 European Union
Recognised minority
language in
Regulated bySlovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts
Language codes
ISO 639-1sl Slovenian
ISO 639-2slv Slovenian
ISO 639-3slv Slovenian
Glottologslov1268  Slovenian
Linguasphere(51 varieties) 53-AAA-f (51 varieties)
Slovene-speaking areas
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South Slavic languages and dialects
Western South Slavic
Eastern South Slavic
Transitional dialects
Alphabets
a Includes Banat Bulgarian alphabet.

Slovene (/ˈsloʊviːn/ ⓘ SLOH-veen or /sloʊˈviːn, slə-/ sloh-VEEN, slə-[8]) or Slovenian (/sloʊˈviːniən, slə-/ ⓘ sloh-VEE-nee-ən, slə-;[9][10] slovenščina) is a South Slavic language of the Balto-Slavic branch of the Indo-European language family. Most of its 2.5 million speakers are the inhabitants of Slovenia, majority of them ethnic Slovenes. As Slovenia is part of the European Union, Slovene is also one of its 24 official and working languages. Its syntax is highly fusional, and it has a dual grammatical number, an archaic feature shared with some other Indo-European languages. Two accentual norms (one characterized by pitch accent) are used. Its flexible word order is often adjusted for emphasis or stylistic reasons, although basically it is an SVO language. It has a T–V distinction: the use of the V-form demonstrates a respectful attitude towards superiors and the elderly, while it can be sidestepped through the passive form.[11]

  1. ^ "Slovenski pravopis 2001: slovenščina".
  2. ^ "Slovenski pravopis 2001: slovenski".
  3. ^ "Slovenski pravopis 2001: jezik".
  4. ^ "International Mother Language Day 2010". Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia. 19 February 2010. Archived from the original on 13 November 2010. Retrieved 29 January 2011.
  5. ^ "Österreichischer Staatsvertrag".
  6. ^ "Hungary: demographic situation, languages and religions".
  7. ^ "Norme in materia di tutela delle minoranze linguistiche storiche" (in Italian).
  8. ^ Jones, Daniel (2003) [1917], Peter Roach; James Hartmann; Jane Setter (eds.), English Pronouncing Dictionary, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, ISBN 3-12-539683-2
  9. ^ Cf. Slovenia in Jones, Daniel (2003) [1917], Peter Roach; James Hartmann; Jane Setter (eds.), English Pronouncing Dictionary, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, ISBN 3-12-539683-2
  10. ^ "Slovenian". Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary. Merriam-Webster.
  11. ^ "TIkanje, VIkanje, (na) polVIkanje in ONIkanje" (in Slovenian). MMC RTV Slovenia. 4 January 2017.