Exploring the Language of Slovenia: Slovene or Slovenian?

Often, the language spoken in Slovenia is referred to by two names: Slovene and Slovenian. This linguistic duality can be somewhat confusing, especially for English speakers. Let's delve into the nuances of this phenomenon and explore how the terms are used.

The Duality of the Language Name

When it comes to describing the national identity of a person from Slovenia, you might encounter both Slovene and Slovenian. Here's a breakdown of how these terms are used:

tSlovene: This term is often used to refer to the people of Slovenia. For instance, if someone from Slovenia introduces themselves, they might say, "I am Slovene." tSlovenian: This term is used more frequently in official contexts such as on ID cards and application forms. For example, an ID card might simply read "Slovenian."

For native speakers, the choice between Slovene and Slovenian is somewhat contextual. Both terms are understood, but using Slovene in casual conversation might be more natural for some:

For native speakers, it’s - Slovenina ali slovenski jezik. "Govorimo slovensko." - Slovenina je juna slovanske jezik v Sloveniji govorimo slovensko. For English speakers it’s - Slovene or Slovenian language. "We speak Slovene." - Slovene is a South Slavic language in Slovenia we speak Slovene OR Slovenian is a South Slavic language in Slovenia we speak Slovenian.

Language Identification in Slovenia

When discussing the language itself, the terms Slovene and Slovenian are both widely understood. However, there is a clear distinction in the newer versions, where 'Slovenian' is the preferred term. Here's how it's used:

For native Slovenians, their language is referred to as slovenina (Slovene language) or slovenski jezik (Slovenian language).

For English speakers, the terms are interchangeable, but it is generally more concise to use Slovenian when referring to the language of Slovenia:

Q: Are you speaking Italian? A: No, I am speaking Slovene/Slovenian.

Q: Ali govori? po italijansko? A: Ne jaz govorim po slovansko.

International Recognition

It's worth noting that this linguistic duality is reflected in international databases such as Glottolog and Ethnologue. Glottolog refers to the language as Slovenian, while Ethnologue lists it as Slovene, noting that Slovenian is an alternate name.

So, while both Slovene and Slovenian are correct, the newer and preferred term is Slovenian, especially when discussing the language.

The Evolution of Terminology

The terminology used to describe the language of Slovenia has evolved over time. For a while, Slovene was more common, but Slovenian has become preferred in recent years.

This evolution is not unusual; languages often undergo changes in terminology as they become more widely known and studied. It's possible that in the future, the terminology might shift again, but for now, Slovenian is the more widely recognized term.

Additional Considerations

It's important to note that this preference for Slovenian is primarily related to the language. When it comes to describing the people of Slovenia, the term Slovenian should still be avoided, and Slovene should be used instead. For example, a Slovene person is someone who identifies their mother tongue as the Slovene language, regardless of their location or passport.

For countries with similar language situations, like Slovakia, the terms Slovak and Slovakian are used to differentiate between the people and the language. However, this distinction is not made for Slovenia.

Conclusion

The choice between Slovene and Slovenian is largely a matter of context and preference. While both terms are understood, it is becoming more common to use Slovenian when discussing the language of Slovenia. This evolution reflects a broader trend in language usage, where newer forms often gain preference as a language becomes more widely recognized and studied.

No matter which term you use, the most important thing is clarity. As long as the sentence makes sense and is clear to the audience, you are on the right path.