Montenegro

Summary

Official Name: Republic of Montenegro
Population: 628,000
Principal Languages: Montenegrin
Literacy Rate: 99% (2018 UNESCO)
International Conventions: CDE (1960), CPPDCE (2006), CSICH (2012), ECRML (1992), FCPNM (1998), ICCPR (1966), UNCRPD (2006)
General References: Comrie 1987, Stephens 1976
Language Counts: The number of established languages listed for Montenegro is 10. Of these, 9 are living and 1 is extinct. Of the living languages, 6 are indigenous and 3 are non-indigenous. Furthermore, 2 are institutional, 6 are developing, and 1 is vigorous. Also listed are 3 unestablished languages.

Languages

Albanian, Gheg aln: Widespread. Users: 32,700 in Montenegro (2011 census). Status: 2 (Provincial). Statutory provincial language in Tuzi City Municipality, Plav Municipality, Ulcinj Municipality (2006, Statute No. 5-06, Article 9). Recognized language (2007, Constitution, Article 13). Alternate Names: Geg, Gegnisht, Shqip, Shqyp Classification: Indo-European, Albanian, Gheg
Bosnian bos: Gusinje, Petnijica, Plav, and Rožaje municipalities. Users: 36,700 in Montenegro (2011 census). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Recognized language (2006, Minority Rights Law, No. 31-06, Article 2). Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, South, Western
Croatian hrv: Kotor and Tivat municipalities. Users: 3,010 in Montenegro (2011 census). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Recognized language (2006, Minority Rights Law, No. 31-06, Article 2). Alternate Names: Hrvatski, Serbo-Croatian Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, South, Western
Dalmatian dlm: Kotor municipality: Bay of Kotor. Users: No known L1 speakers in Montenegro. Status: 10 (Extinct). Alternate Names: Dalmatic, Dalmatico, Dalmato, Dalmatski, Langa Dalmata, Lingua Dalmatica Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Italo-Dalmatian
English eng: Widespread. Users: 130,190 in Montenegro, all users. L1 users: 190 in Montenegro (2011 census). L2 users: 130,000 (2011 census). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, English
French fra: Users: 12,900 in Montenegro (Beck et al 2018), L2 users. Status: 5* (Dispersed). Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Rhaetian, Oïl, French
German, Standard deu: Users: 14,000 in Montenegro (2011 census), L2 users. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, German, Middle German, East Middle German
Italian ita: Users: 24,100 in Montenegro (2011 census), L2 users. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Italo-Dalmatian
Montenegrin cnr: Widespread. Users: 230,000 in Montenegro (2011 census). Total users in all countries: 267,390. Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (2007, Constitution, Article 13). Alternate Names: Serbo-Croatian Autonym: црногорски‎ (Crnogorski) Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, South, Western
Montenegrin Sign Language ysl: Scattered. Users: 2,000 in Montenegro (2021 DBS/DOOR/SIL). Estimated 1,200–2,400 deaf signers, based on 0.2%–0.4% of total population. Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Montenegro Sign Language, YSL, Yugoslav Sign Language, Yugoslavian Sign Language Classification: Sign language, Deaf community sign language
Romani, Balkan rmn: Berane, Bijelo Polje, Herceg Novi, Nikšic, and Podgorica municipalities. Users: 5,170 in Montenegro (2011 census). Status: 5* (Developing). Alternate Names: Romani ćhib Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Intermediate Divisions, Western, Romani, Balkan
Russian rus: Users: 150,030 in Montenegro, all users. L1 users: 1,030 in Montenegro (2011 census). L2 users: 149,000 (Arefyev 2012). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, East
Serbian srp: Widespread. Users: 266,000 in Montenegro (2011 census). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Serbo-Croatian Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, South, Western

Languages by Status

1 (National)

Montenegrin

[cnr] 1 (National). Statutory national language (2007, Constitution, Article 13). 230,000 in Montenegro (2011 census). Total users in all countries: 267,390.

2 (Provincial)

Albanian, Gheg

[aln] 2 (Provincial). Statutory provincial language in Tuzi City Municipality, Plav Municipality, Ulcinj Municipality (2006, Statute No. 5-06, Article 9). Recognized language (2007, Constitution, Article 13). 32,700 in Montenegro (2011 census).

5 (Dispersed)

Bosnian

[bos] 5* (Dispersed). Recognized language (2006, Minority Rights Law, No. 31-06, Article 2). 36,700 in Montenegro (2011 census).

Croatian

[hrv] 5* (Dispersed). Recognized language (2006, Minority Rights Law, No. 31-06, Article 2). 3,010 in Montenegro (2011 census).

English

[eng] 5* (Dispersed). 130,190 in Montenegro, all users. L1 users: 190 in Montenegro (2011 census). L2 users: 130,000 (2011 census).

French

[fra] 5* (Dispersed). 12,900 in Montenegro (Beck et al 2018), L2 users.

Serbian

[srp] 5* (Dispersed). 266,000 in Montenegro (2011 census).

5 (Developing)

Romani, Balkan

[rmn] 5* (Developing). 5,170 in Montenegro (2011 census).

6a (Vigorous)

Montenegrin Sign Language

[ysl] 6a* (Vigorous). 2,000 in Montenegro (2021 DBS/DOOR/SIL). Estimated 1,200–2,400 deaf signers, based on 0.2%–0.4% of total population.

10 (Extinct)

Dalmatian

[dlm] 10 (Extinct). No known L1 speakers in Montenegro.

Unestablished

German, Standard

[deu] Unestablished. 14,000 in Montenegro (2011 census), L2 users.

Italian

[ita] Unestablished. 24,100 in Montenegro (2011 census), L2 users.

Russian

[rus] Unestablished. 150,030 in Montenegro, all users. L1 users: 1,030 in Montenegro (2011 census). L2 users: 149,000 (Arefyev 2012).

Maps

Albania and Montenegro
Albania, Macedonia and Montenegro

Graphs

Language Vitality Profile
Full explanation
This graph shows the profile of languages in Montenegro with respect to their level of language vitality. Each individual language that has an entry for Montenegro is included in the profile. The horizontal axis represents the estimated level of vitality. The height of each bar indicates the number of languages that are estimated to be at the given level.
The vitality levels and the color coding of the bars match the scheme used in the guide on How many languages are endangered? In this scheme, the levels and colors are as follows:
- Dark green = Institutional (EGIDS 0-4) — The language has been developed to the point that it is used and sustained by institutions beyond the home and community.
- Light green = Stable (EGIDS 5-6a) — The language is not being sustained by formal institutions, but It is still the norm in the home and community that all children learn and use the language.
- Red = Endangered (EGIDS 6b-9) — It is no longer the norm that children learn and use this language.
These three summary levels have been derived by grouping levels in the Expanded Graded Intergenerational Disruption Scale (EGIDS), which is the more fine-grained scale that Ethnologue uses to assess the status of every language in terms of development versus endangerment; see the Language Status page for a description of the levels of that scale. See also the pages on Development and Endangerment for more discussion.
Language Status Profile
Full explanation
This graph shows the profile of languages in Montenegro with respect to their status of language development versus language endangerment. Each individual language that has an entry for Montenegro is included in the profile. The horizontal axis represents the estimated level of development or endangerment as measured on the EGIDS scale. (See the pages on Development and Endangerment for a fuller explanation.) The height of each bar indicates the number of languages that are estimated to be at the given level. Consult the Status listings for Montenegro in order to see the specific languages for each level.
The color coding of the bars matches the color scheme used in the summary profile graphs on the navigation maps for the site. In this scheme, the EGIDS levels are grouped as follows:
- Purple = Institutional (EGIDS 0-4) — The language has been developed to the point that it is used and sustained by institutions beyond the home and community.
- Blue = Developing (EGIDS 5) — The language is in vigorous use, with literature in a standardized form being used by some though this is not yet widespread or sustainable.
- Green = Vigorous (EGIDS 6a) — The language is unstandardized and in vigorous use among all generations.
- Yellow = In trouble (EGIDS 6b-7) — Intergenerational transmission is in the process of being broken, but the child-bearing generation can still use the language so it is possible that revitalization efforts could restore transmission of the language in the home.
- Red = Dying (EGIDS 8a-9) — The only fluent users (if any) are older than child-bearing age, so it is too late to restore natural intergenerational transmission through the home; a mechanism outside the home would need to be developed.
- Black = Extinct (EGIDS 10) — The language has fallen completely out of use and no one retains a sense of ethnic identity associated with the language.

Resources

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Digest of the languages of Montenegro ($149.95, 21 page PDF)

Montenegro

Summary

Languages

Languages by Status

Maps

Albania and Montenegro

Albania, Macedonia and Montenegro

Graphs

Language Vitality Profile

Language Status Profile

Resources

Contributions

Editorial Action