Declaration on the Common Language: Difference between revisions

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| caption1 = [[Press-conference|Press conference]] about the ''Declaration on the Common Language''

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The '''Declaration on the Common Language''' ({{lang-sh-Latn-Cyrl|Deklaracija o zajedničkom jeziku|Декларација о заједничком језику|separator=" / "}}) was issued in 2017 by a group of intellectuals and [[NGO]]s from [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]], [[Croatia]], [[Montenegro]] and [[Serbia]] who were working under the banner of a project called "Language and Nationalism".<ref name="Kord2024">{{cite book|last=Kordić|first=Snježana|author-link=Snježana Kordić|editor-last1=Nomachi|editor-first1=Motoki|editor-link1=Motoki Nomachi|editor-last2=Kamusella|editor-first2=Tomasz|editor-link2=Tomasz Kamusella|title=Languages and Nationalism Instead of Empires|publisher=[[Routledge]]|series=Routledge Histories of Central and Eastern Europe|pages=172–173|chapter=Ideology Against Language: The Current Situation in South Slavic Countries|chapter-url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/372202077|chapter-format=PDF|language=en|___location=London|year=2024|doi=10.4324/9781003034025-11|doi-access=|isbn=978-0-367-47191-0|lccn=|oclc=1390118985|s2cid=259576119|s2cid-access=|ssrn=4680766|ssrn-access=free|id={{COBISS.SR|125229577}}. {{COBISS|171014403}}|archive-url=https://archive.org/details/kordic-ideology-against-language  |archive-date=2024-01-10|access-date=2024-01-25|url-status=live}}</ref> The ''Declaration'' states that [[Bosniaks]], [[Croats]], [[Montenegrins]] and [[Serbs]] have a common [[standard language]] of the [[Polycentric language|polycentric]] type.<ref name="Kord2024"/>

[[File:Television cameras at Press conference in Sarajevo.jpg|thumb|right|220px|Great interest of [[television companies]] in the Press conference about the ''Declaration'']]Before any public presentation, the ''Declaration'' was signed by over 200 [[Famous people|prominent]] writers, scientists, journalists, activists and other public figures from the four [[Country|countries]].<ref name="Trudgill"/><ref>{{cite book|last=Šipka|first=Danko|authorlink=Danko Sipka|year=2019|title=Lexical layers of identity: words, meaning, and culture in the Slavic languages|___location=New York|publisher=Cambridge University Press|page=168|doi=10.1017/9781108685795|isbn=978-953-313-086-6|s2cid=150383965 |lccn=2018048005 |oclc=1061308790|quote=2017, a group of over 200 intellectuals (mostly writers, actors, but also numerous linguists) published a declaration on the common language, which, among others, claimed that Serbian, Croatian, Bosnian, and Montenegrin are not separate languages but rather variants of the common language.}}</ref> After being [[Publishing|published]], it has been signed by over 10,000 people from all over the region.<ref>{{cite book|last=Mader Skender|first=Mia|title=Die kroatische Standardsprache auf dem Weg zur Ausbausprache|language=German|trans-title=The Croatian standard language on the way to ausbau language|chapter=Deklaracija o zajedničkom jeziku|trans-chapter=Declaration on the Common Language|url=https://www.zora.uzh.ch/id/eprint/215815/|format=PDF|publisher=University of Zurich, Faculty of Arts, Institute of Slavonic Studies|series=UZH Dissertations|pages=81–84|___location=Zurich|year=2022|doi=10.5167/uzh-215815|accessdate=3 March 2022|type=Dissertation |quote=Die Liste kann auf der genannten Seite eingesehen werden und zählt mittlerweile weit mehr als 10.000 Unterschriften. |trans-quote=The list can be viewed on the mentioned page and now counts well over 10.000 signatures. |quote-page=82}}</ref> The ''Declaration on the Common Language'' is an attempt to counter nationalistic factions.<ref>{{cite web|first=Sven|last=Milekić|date=30 March 2017|title=Post-Yugoslav 'Common Language' Declaration Challenges Nationalism|url=http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/post-yugoslav-common-language-declaration-challenges-nationalism-03-29-2017|publisher=[[Balkan Insight]]|archive-date=27 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170427234436/http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/post-yugoslav-common-language-declaration-challenges-nationalism-03-29-2017|url-status=live|___location=London|access-date=18 June 2019}}</ref> Its aim is to stimulate discussion on language without nationalism and to contribute to the [[Reconciliation (ethnic relations)|reconciliation]] process.<ref name="Economist"/>

==Contents of the Declaration==

The ''Declaration'' states that [[Bosniaks]], [[Croats]], [[Montenegrins]] and [[Serbs]] have a common [[standard language]] of the [[Polycentric language|polycentric]] type.<ref>{{cite web|title=Predstavljena Deklaracija o zajedničkom jeziku|trans-title=Declaration on the Common Language Presented|language=sh|work=TV news Vesti|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKsSwZXw0pE|publisher=[[B92]]|date=30 March 2017|access-date=18 June 2019}} min 0.13</ref><ref>{{cite web|first1=Jean-Arnault|last1=Dérens|first2=Simon|last2=Rico|date=1 July 2017|page=18|title=La langue sans nom des Balkans|trans-title=Unnamed Language of the Balkans|language=fr|url=httphttps://www.monde-diplomatique.fr/2017/07/DERENS/57651|work=[[Le Monde diplomatique]]|archive-date=5 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170705081357/http://www.monde-diplomatique.fr/2017/07/DERENS/57651|url-status=live|___location=Paris|issn=0026-9395|access-date=18 March 2017}}</ref> It refers to the fact that the four peoples communicate effectively without an interpreter due to their [[mutual intelligibility]], which is a key notion when talking about languages.<ref>{{cite web|last=Slavenka|first=Drakulić|author-link=Slavenka Drakulić|title=U tranziciji pisci su gubitnici (intervju vodio Vladimir Matković)|trans-title=In Transition, Writers Are Losers (interview conducted by Vladimir Matković)|language=sh|url=https://www.danas.rs/kultura/u-tranziciji-pisci-su-gubitnici/|work=[[Danas (newspaper)|Danas]]|archive-date=19 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210419153606/https://www.danas.rs/kultura/u-tranziciji-pisci-su-gubitnici/|url-status=live|___location=Belgrade|issn=1450-538X|date=30 March 2018|access-date=18 June 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Bahrer|first=Manuel|date=1 October 2018|title=Zajednički jezik nema veze s Jugoslavijom|trans-title=The Common Language Has Nothing to Do With Yugoslavia|language=sh|url=http://bib.irb.hr/datoteka/965944.Intervju-Kosmo-2018.png|publisher=[[:de:Kosmo (Magazin)|Kosmo]]|___location=Wienna|access-date=18 June 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Deklaracja o wspólnym języku |trans-title=Declaration on the Common Language |first=Sadowska-Lasyk |last=Kamila|language= pl|url=http://balkanistyka.org/deklaracja-o-wspolnym-jezyku-serbii-czarnogory-chorwacji-i-bosni-i-hercegowiny/|publisher=Stowarzyszenie Bałkanistyka|date=2017-03-30|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200220195754/http://balkanistyka.org/deklaracja-o-wspolnym-jezyku-serbii-czarnogory-chorwacji-i-bosni-i-hercegowiny/|archivedate=2020-02-20|url-status=dead|accessdate=2023-05-07}}</ref> Furthermore, it points out that the current [[language policy]] of emphasizing differences has led to a number of negative phenomena,<ref name="Economist">{{cite news|last=J.|first=T.|date=10 April 2017|title=Is Serbo-Croatian a Language?|url=http://www.economist.com/blogs/economist-explains/2017/04/economist-explains-4|newspaper=[[The Economist]]|archive-date=10 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170410083158/http://www.economist.com/blogs/economist-explains/2017/04/economist-explains-4|url-status=live|___location=London|issn=0013-0613|access-date=18 June 2019}} [http://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2017&mm=04&dd=10&nav_category=12&nav_id=1248942 Alt URL]</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Kordić|first=Snježana|author-link=Snježana Kordić|date=26 February 2018|title=Dan materinskog jezika (intervju vodila Ines Baždalić)|trans-title=Mother Tongue Day (interview conducted by Ines Baždalić)|language=sh|url=http://bib.irb.hr/datoteka/935897.Intervju_SK_BH_radio_26-2-2018-Ines_Badali-Epicentar.WAV|work=Radio show Epicentar|publisher=[[BH Radio 1]]|___location=Sarajevo|access-date=18 June 2019|id={{CROSBI|935897}}}}, min 26:12</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Nikola|last=Vučić|title=Bosanski, srpski, hrvatski i "logika sirovog nacionalizma"|trans-title=Bosnian, Serbian, Croatian and "the Logic of Crude Nationalism"|language=sh|work=TV news Dnevnik u 19|url=http://ba.n1info.com/a297253/Vijesti/Vijesti/Izjasnjavanje-roditelja-o-jeziku-u-sarajevskim-skolama.html|publisher=[[N1 (TV channel)|N1]]|date=14 December 2018|access-date=18 June 2019|archive-date=20 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181120031155/http://ba.n1info.com/a297253/Vijesti/Vijesti/Izjasnjavanje-roditelja-o-jeziku-u-sarajevskim-skolama.html|url-status=dead}} 2:13 min</ref> and linguistic expression is imposed as a criterion of [[Ethnonationalism|ethnonational]] affiliation and a means of affirming political [[loyalty]].<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Dan|last=Nosovitz|date=11 February 2019|title=What Language Do People Speak in the Balkans, Anyway?|url=https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/what-language-is-spoken-in-the-balkans|magazine=[[Atlas Obscura]]|archive-date=11 February 2019|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190211191959/https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/what-language-is-spoken-in-the-balkans|access-date=18 June 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Paula|last=Bobanović|date=14 April 2018|title=Chomsky: Hrvati, Srbi i Bošnjaci govore isti jezik|trans-title=Chomsky: Croats, Serbs and Bosniaks Speak the Same Language|language=sh|url=https://www.express.hr/kultura/chomsky-hrvati-srbi-i-bosnjaci-govore-isti-jezik-14973|publisher=Express.hr|___location=Zagreb|archive-date=7 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180807155526/https://www.express.hr/kultura/chomsky-hrvati-srbi-i-bosnjaci-govore-isti-jezik-14973|url-status=live|access-date=18 June 2019}}</ref> The ''Declaration'' states that language and people do not have to coincide, and that each [[State (polity)|state]] or nation may independently [[Codification (linguistics)|codify]] its own variant of the common language, and that the four standard variants enjoy equal status.<ref>{{cite web|title=Deklaracija o zajedničkom jeziku predstavljena u Sarajevu|trans-title=The Declaration on the Common Language Presented in Sarajevo|language=sh|work=TV news Vijesti|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAjm5pbRwaQ|publisher=[[Al Jazeera Balkans|Al Jazeera]]|date=30 March 2017|access-date=18 June 2019}} min 1.07</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Jakov|last=Avram|title=Jezik, Deklaracija i politika|trans-title=Language, Declaration and Politics|language=sh|work=TV show Kontekst|url=http://balkans.aljazeera.net/video/kontekst-jezik-deklaracija-i-politika|publisher=[[Al Jazeera Balkans|Al Jazeera]]|date=30 March 2017|archive-date=1 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170401174913/http://balkans.aljazeera.net/video/kontekst-jezik-deklaracija-i-politika|url-status=live|access-date=18 June 2019}} [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOR5VWn5EMs Alt URL] min 21.42</ref> The ''Declaration'' calls for abolishing all forms of linguistic segregation and [[Linguistic discrimination|discrimination]] in educational and public institutions.<ref name="MiaDuhacek">{{cite web|first1=Goran|last1=Duhaček|first2=Mija|last2=Pavliša|date=28 March 2017|title=Deklaracija o zajedničkom jeziku uzbunit će duhove; evo što kažu njeni potpisnici|trans-title=The Declaration on the Common Language Will Alert the Spirits; Here's What Its Signatories Say|language=sh|url=https://www.tportal.hr/kultura/clanak/deklaracija-o-zajednickom-jeziku-uzbunit-ce-duhove-evo-sto-kazu-njeni-potpisnici-20170328|publisher=T-portal|___location=Zagreb|issn=1334-3130|archive-date=3 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170403041015/https://www.tportal.hr/kultura/clanak/deklaracija-o-zajednickom-jeziku-uzbunit-ce-duhove-evo-sto-kazu-njeni-potpisnici-20170328|url-status=live|access-date=18 June 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Zanelli|first=Aldo|year=2018|title=Eine Analyse der Metaphern in der kroatischen Linguistikfachzeitschrift Jezik von 1991 bis 1997|trans-title=Analysis of Metaphors in Croatian Linguistic Journal ''Language'' from 1991 to 1997|language=de|series=Studien zur Slavistik; 41|___location=Hamburg|publisher=[[:de:Dr. Kovač|Dr. Kovač]]|pages=83|isbn=978-3-8300-9773-0|oclc=1023608613}} [http://katalog.nsk.hr/F/?func=direct&doc_number=001013945 (NSK)]. [https://koha.ffzg.hr/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=385977 (FFZG)]</ref><ref>{{cite journal|first=Krejčí |last=Pavel|title=Декларация за общ език (Deklaracija o zajedničkom jeziku, 2017): антинационалистическа провокация или рефлексия на обективната реалност? |trans-title=Declaration on the Common Language (Deklaracija o zajedničkom jeziku, 2017): Anti-nationalist Provocation, or a Reflection of Objective Reality? |language=bg|journal=Balkanistic forumForum|volume=33 |issue=2 |year=2024|issn=1310-3970 |id={{CEEOL|1245780}}|pages=298–312}}</ref> It also advocates for the freedom of individual choice and respect for [[linguistic diversity]].<ref>{{cite web|first=Amir|last=Zukić|author-link=Amir Zukić (TV host)|title=Gošća Pressinga Snježana Kordić|trans-title=Snježana Kordić – Guest of Pressing|language=sh|work=TV show Pressing|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lwvedwnv24U|publisher=[[N1 (TV channel)|N1]]|date=29 March 2017|access-date=18 June 2019|id={{CROSBI|935979}}}} 53:15 min</ref>

==International project "Languages and Nationalisms"==

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|-

| What are the Achievements of the Declaration on the Common Language?{{Ref label|g|g|none}}

| Literary Conference [[Book Talk]]

| 29 September

|-

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* [[Saša Ilić (writer, born 1972)|Saša Ilić]]

* [[Daša Drndić]]

* [[Edvin Kanka Cudic|Edvin Kanka Ćudić]]

* [[Rade Šerbedžija]]

* [[Biljana Srbljanović]]

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* [[Goran Marković]]

* [[Vladislav Bajac]]

* [[Stevan Filipović (film director)|Stevan Filipović]]

* [[Igor Kusin]]

* [[Feđa Stojanović]]

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* [[Tatiana Bezjak|Tatjana Bezjak]]

* [[Dragoljub Mićunović]]

* [[Stasa Zajovic|Stanislava Staša Zajović]]

* [[Goran Dević]]

* [[Miloš Okuka]]

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==Signatories about the ''Declaration'' – Selected bibliography==<!-- Please do not delete this bibliography as only important sources are included -->

<div style="height: 355px; overflow: auto; padding: 3px;text-align: left; border: 1px solid #000000;">

* {{cite web|first=Boban|last=Arsenijević|date=15 April 2017|title=Policentrični zajednički jezik i deklaracija o tome izazvali burne reakcije (intervju vodili Nemanja Stevanović i Vladimir Đorđević)|trans-title=The Polycentric Common Language and the Declaration produced stormy reactions (interview conducted by Nemanja Stevanović and Vladimir Đorđević)|language=sh|url=http://mediareform.rs/policentricni-zajednicki-jezik-i-deklaracija-o-tome-izazvali-burne-reakcije/|publisher=Media & Reform centar|archive-date=12 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170512014904/http://mediareform.rs/policentricni-zajednicki-jezik-i-deklaracija-o-tome-izazvali-burne-reakcije/|url-status=live|___location=Niš|access-date=18 June 2019}}

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==Notes==

{{refbegin}}

'''a.''' {{Note label|a|a|none}} Participants: [[Borka Pavićević]], Rajka Glušica and [[Snježana Kordić]]; Moderator: Sandra Zlotrg

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==References==

{{reflist}}

==External links==

{{Commons category|Declaration on the Common Language}}

* [http://jezicinacionalizmi.com/ Text of the Declaration] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180809220921/http://jezicinacionalizmi.com/ |date=9 August 2018 }} {{in lang|sh}}

* [https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1XVGV5Z306SeDFzpdpUHhfeK-voAFdaakS48LqXfGozA/pubhtml List of signatories]

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* {{YouTube|VJFBqZVXROM|Clip from the conference Languages and Nationalisms}} {{in lang|sh}}

[[Category:Serbo-Croatian language]]

[[Category:Petitions]]

[[Category:Croatian documents]]