Slovenia

Summary

Official Name: Republic of Slovenia
Population: 2,101,000
Principal Languages: Slovene
Literacy Rate: 100% (2015 World Factbook)
International Conventions: CDE (1960), CPPDCE (2006), CSICH (2012), ECRML (1992), FCPNM (1998), ICCPR (1966), UNCRPD (2006), UNDRIP (2007)
General References: Browne et al 1997, Campbell and King 2011, Comrie 1987, Comrie and Corbet 1993, Priestly 1993, Stephens 1976
Deaf Population: 1,500 (2014 Association of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Slovenia)
Language Counts: The number of established languages listed for Slovenia is 12. All are living languages. Of these, 3 are indigenous and 9 are non-indigenous. Furthermore, 4 are institutional, 7 are developing, and 1 is dying. Also listed are 3 unestablished languages.

Languages

Albanian, Gheg aln: Users: 7,180 in Slovenia (2003 UNSD). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Albanian, Gheg
Bosnian bos: Users: 31,500 in Slovenia (2003 UNSD). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Recognized language (2000, Slovenian Ratification, ECRML). Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, South, Western
Croatian hrv: Widespread. Users: 1,332,300 in Slovenia, all users. L1 users: 72,300 in Slovenia (2003 UNSD). L2 users: 1,260,000 (European Commission 2012). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Recognized language (2000, Slovenian Ratification, ECRML). Alternate Names: Hrvatski, Serbo-Croatian Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, South, Western
English eng: Users: 1,230,000 in Slovenia (European Commission 2012), L2 users. Status: 4 (Educational). Alternate Names: Angleščina Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, English
French fra: Users: 50,000 in Slovenia (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: 879,200 in Slovenia, all users. L1 users: 5,200 in Slovenia (2019 Eurostat). L2 users: 874,000 (2019). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Recognized language (2000, Slovenian Ratification, ECRML). Alternate Names: Deutsch Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, German, Middle German, East Middle German
Hungarian hun: Hungary border area. Users: 8,700 in Slovenia (Laakso et al 2013). Status: 2 (Provincial). Recognized language (1991, Constitution, Article 64). Alternate Names: Madžarski, Magyar Classification: Uralic
Italian ita: Izola and Piran municipalities. Users: 3,760 in Slovenia (2003 UNSD). Status: 2 (Provincial). Recognized language (1991, Constitution, Article 64). Alternate Names: Italiano, Italijanski Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Italo-Dalmatian
Macedonian mkd: Users: 4,760 in Slovenia (2003 UNSD). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, South, Eastern
Romani, Carpathian rmc: Maribor, Murska Sobota, and Novo Mesto municipalities. Users: 3,830 in Slovenia (2003 UNSD). Status: 5* (Developing). Recognized language (1991, Constitution, Article 65). Alternate Names: Romanes Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Intermediate Divisions, Western, Romani, Northern
Russian rus: Users: 30,000 in Slovenia (Arefyev 2012), all users. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, East
Serbian srp: Users: 49,500 in Slovenia (2003 UNSD). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Recognized language (2000, Slovenian Ratification, ECRML). Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, South, Western
Slovene slv: Widespread. Users: 1,995,000 in Slovenia, all users. L1 users: 1,920,000 in Slovenia (European Commission 2012). L2 users: 75,000 (European Commission 2012). Total users in all countries: 2,229,450 (as L1: 2,045,450; as L2: 184,000). Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (1991, Constitution, Article 11). Alternate Names: Slovenian Autonym: Slovenski jezik, Slovenščina Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, South, Western
Slovenian Sign Language ysl: Scattered. Users: 1,000 in Slovenia (2014 Association of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Slovenia). About 0.05% of total population. Other estimates: 863 (2021 EUD); 2,500–3,000 (2004 M. Debecv et al). Total users in all countries: 25,000. Status: 5 (Developing). Recognized language (2002, Law 96/02, Law on the Use of Slovenian Sign Language, ZUSZJ). Alternate Names: SZJ, Slovene Sign Language, Slovenski Znakovni Jezik, YSL, Yugoslav Sign Language, Yugoslavian Sign Language Classification: Sign language, Deaf community sign language
Venetian vec: Izola, Koper, and Piran. Status: 8a (Moribund). Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Italian

Languages by Status

1 (National)

Slovene

[slv] 1 (National). Statutory national language (1991, Constitution, Article 11). 1,995,000 in Slovenia, all users. L1 users: 1,920,000 in Slovenia (European Commission 2012). L2 users: 75,000 (European Commission 2012). Total users in all countries: 2,229,450 (as L1: 2,045,450; as L2: 184,000).

2 (Provincial)

Hungarian

[hun] 2 (Provincial). Recognized language (1991, Constitution, Article 64). 8,700 in Slovenia (Laakso et al 2013).

Italian

[ita] 2 (Provincial). Recognized language (1991, Constitution, Article 64). 3,760 in Slovenia (2003 UNSD).

4 (Educational)

English

[eng] 4 (Educational). 1,230,000 in Slovenia (European Commission 2012), L2 users.

5 (Dispersed)

Bosnian

[bos] 5* (Dispersed). Recognized language (2000, Slovenian Ratification, ECRML). 31,500 in Slovenia (2003 UNSD).

Croatian

[hrv] 5* (Dispersed). Recognized language (2000, Slovenian Ratification, ECRML). 1,332,300 in Slovenia, all users. L1 users: 72,300 in Slovenia (2003 UNSD). L2 users: 1,260,000 (European Commission 2012).

French

[fra] 5* (Dispersed). 50,000 in Slovenia (Beck et al 2018), L2 users.

German, Standard

[deu] 5* (Dispersed). Recognized language (2000, Slovenian Ratification, ECRML). 879,200 in Slovenia, all users. L1 users: 5,200 in Slovenia (2019 Eurostat). L2 users: 874,000 (2019).

Serbian

[srp] 5* (Dispersed). Recognized language (2000, Slovenian Ratification, ECRML). 49,500 in Slovenia (2003 UNSD).

5 (Developing)

Romani, Carpathian

[rmc] 5* (Developing). Recognized language (1991, Constitution, Article 65). 3,830 in Slovenia (2003 UNSD).

Slovenian Sign Language

[ysl] 5 (Developing). Recognized language (2002, Law 96/02, Law on the Use of Slovenian Sign Language, ZUSZJ). 1,000 in Slovenia (2014 Association of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Slovenia). About 0.05% of total population. Other estimates: 863 (2021 EUD); 2,500–3,000 (2004 M. Debecv et al). Total users in all countries: 25,000.

8a (Moribund)

Venetian

[vec] 8a (Moribund).

Unestablished

Albanian, Gheg

[aln] Unestablished. 7,180 in Slovenia (2003 UNSD).

Macedonian

[mkd] Unestablished. 4,760 in Slovenia (2003 UNSD).

Russian

[rus] Unestablished. 30,000 in Slovenia (Arefyev 2012), all users.

Maps

Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Slovenia

Graphs

Language Vitality Profile
Full explanation
This graph shows the profile of languages in Slovenia with respect to their level of language vitality. Each individual language that has an entry for Slovenia 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 Slovenia with respect to their status of language development versus language endangerment. Each individual language that has an entry for Slovenia 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 Slovenia 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 Slovenia ($149.95, 26 page PDF)

Slovenia

Summary

Languages

Languages by Status

Maps

Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Slovenia

Graphs

Language Vitality Profile

Language Status Profile

Resources

Contributions

Editorial Action