Slovakia

Summary

Official Name: Slovak Republic
Population: 5,431,000
Principal Languages: Slovak
Literacy Rate: 100% (Roser and Ortiz-Ospina 2018)
International Conventions: CDE (1960), CPPDCE (2006), CSICH (2012), ECRML (1992), FCPNM (1998), ICCPR (1966), UNCRPD (2006), UNDRIP (2007)
General References: Campbell and King 2011, Comrie 1987, Hancock 1990a
Language Counts: The number of established languages listed for Slovakia is 13. All are living languages. Of these, 6 are indigenous and 7 are non-indigenous. Furthermore, 3 are institutional, 7 are developing, 1 is vigorous, and 2 are in trouble. Also listed is 1 unestablished language.

Languages

Chakavian ckm: Bratislavsky region: Cunovo, Chorvatsky Grob, Devinska Nova Ves, Jarovice. Users: 3,000 in Slovakia (2021 K. Tyran). Status: 6b (Threatened). Alternate Names: Gradišćanskohrvatski jezik Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, South, Western
Czech ces: Widespread. Users: 2,585,200 in Slovakia, all users. L1 users: 35,200 in Slovakia (2013 UNSD). L2 users: 2,550,000 (European Commission 2012). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Čeština, Český jazyk Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, West, Czech-Slovak
English eng: Users: 1,420,800 in Slovakia, all users. L1 users: 800 in Slovakia (2020 Joshua Project), based on ethnicity. L2 users: 1,420,000 (European Commission 2012). Status: 4 (Educational). Alternate Names: Angličtina Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, English
French fra: Users: 114,000 in Slovakia (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: Scattered. Users: 1,205,190 in Slovakia, all users. L1 users: 5,190 in Slovakia (2013 UNSD). L2 users: 1,200,000 (2019). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Deutsch, Nemec Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, German, Middle German, East Middle German
Hungarian hun: Banskobystricky, Bratislavsky, Kosicky, Nitriansky, and Trnavsky regions; mainly near southern border. Users: 509,000 in Slovakia (2013 UNSD). Status: 2 (Provincial). Statutory provincial language in southeast, south (1999, National Minority Language Use Act, Article 2). Alternate Names: Maďarský, Magyar Classification: Uralic
Polish pol: Scattered. Users: 3,120 in Slovakia (2013 UNSD). Status: 6b* (Threatened). Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, West, Lechitic
Romani, Carpathian rmc: Banskobystricky region: Brezno, Krupina, and Rimavská Sobota districts; Kosicky region: Krompachy area (East Slovak Romani dialect); Nitriansky region: Šaľa district; Presovsky region: Bardejov district; Trnavsky region: Senica district (West Slovak Romani dialect). Users: 123,000 in Slovakia (2013 UNSD). Total users in all countries: 186,700. Status: 5* (Developing). Alternate Names: Bashaldo, Central Romani, Hungarian-Slovak Romani, Karpacki Roma, Sárvika Romá, Ungrike Romá Autonym: Romanes Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Intermediate Divisions, Western, Romani, Northern
Romani, Vlax rmy: Scattered. Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Rom Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Intermediate Divisions, Western, Romani, Vlax
Russian rus: Users: 1,300,000 in Slovakia (Arefyev 2012), all users. L1 users: 3,180 (2013 UNSD). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, East
Rusyn rue: Presovsky region: far northeast corner. Users: 55,500 in Slovakia (2013 UNSD). Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Carpathian, Carpatho-Rusyn, Rusinskiy yazyk, Ruthenian Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, East
Slovak slk: Widespread. Users: 5,115,000 in Slovakia, all users. L1 users: 4,770,000 in Slovakia (European Commission 2012). L2 users: 345,000 (European Commission 2012). Total users in all countries: 7,251,080 (as L1: 5,206,080; as L2: 2,045,000). Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (1992, Constitution, Article 6(1)). Alternate Names: Slovakian Autonym: Slovenský Jazyk, Slovenčina Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, West, Czech-Slovak
Slovakian Sign Language svk: Scattered. Users: 15,000 (2021 EUD). About 0.3% of total population. Another estimate: 27,000 (2014 IMB). Status: 5 (Developing). Recognized language (1995, Law on the Sign Language of the Deaf 149). Alternate Names: Slovak Republic Sign Language, Slovak Sign Language, Slovnik Posunkovej Reci, Slovník Posunkovej Reči Classification: Sign language, Deaf community sign language
Ukrainian ukr: Scattered, mainly in larger towns in eastern Slovakia. Users: 5,690 in Slovakia (2013 UNSD). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, East

Languages by Status

1 (National)

Slovak

[slk] 1 (National). Statutory national language (1992, Constitution, Article 6(1)). 5,115,000 in Slovakia, all users. L1 users: 4,770,000 in Slovakia (European Commission 2012). L2 users: 345,000 (European Commission 2012). Total users in all countries: 7,251,080 (as L1: 5,206,080; as L2: 2,045,000).

2 (Provincial)

Hungarian

[hun] 2 (Provincial). Statutory provincial language in southeast, south (1999, National Minority Language Use Act, Article 2). 509,000 in Slovakia (2013 UNSD).

4 (Educational)

English

[eng] 4 (Educational). 1,420,800 in Slovakia, all users. L1 users: 800 in Slovakia (2020 Joshua Project), based on ethnicity. L2 users: 1,420,000 (European Commission 2012).

5 (Dispersed)

Czech

[ces] 5* (Dispersed). 2,585,200 in Slovakia, all users. L1 users: 35,200 in Slovakia (2013 UNSD). L2 users: 2,550,000 (European Commission 2012).

French

[fra] 5* (Dispersed). 114,000 in Slovakia (Beck et al 2018), L2 users.

German, Standard

[deu] 5* (Dispersed). 1,205,190 in Slovakia, all users. L1 users: 5,190 in Slovakia (2013 UNSD). L2 users: 1,200,000 (2019).

Romani, Vlax

[rmy] 5* (Dispersed).

Ukrainian

[ukr] 5* (Dispersed). 5,690 in Slovakia (2013 UNSD).

5 (Developing)

Romani, Carpathian

[rmc] 5* (Developing). 123,000 in Slovakia (2013 UNSD). Total users in all countries: 186,700.

Slovakian Sign Language

[svk] 5 (Developing). Recognized language (1995, Law on the Sign Language of the Deaf 149). 15,000 (2021 EUD). About 0.3% of total population. Another estimate: 27,000 (2014 IMB).

6a (Vigorous)

Rusyn

[rue] 6a* (Vigorous). 55,500 in Slovakia (2013 UNSD).

6b (Threatened)

Chakavian

[ckm] 6b (Threatened). 3,000 in Slovakia (2021 K. Tyran).

Polish

[pol] 6b* (Threatened). 3,120 in Slovakia (2013 UNSD).

Unestablished

Russian

[rus] Unestablished. 1,300,000 in Slovakia (Arefyev 2012), all users. L1 users: 3,180 (2013 UNSD).

Maps

Slovakia

Graphs

Language Vitality Profile
Full explanation
This graph shows the profile of languages in Slovakia with respect to their level of language vitality. Each individual language that has an entry for Slovakia 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 Slovakia with respect to their status of language development versus language endangerment. Each individual language that has an entry for Slovakia 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 Slovakia 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 Slovakia ($149.95, 22 page PDF)

Slovakia

Summary

Languages

Languages by Status

Maps

Slovakia

Graphs

Language Vitality Profile

Language Status Profile

Resources

Contributions

Editorial Action