View source for Languages of Yugoslavia

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{{More citations needed|date=August 2023}}
{{Languages of
| country = Yugoslavia
| semi-official  = [[Serbo-Croatian]], [[Macedonian language|Macedonian]], [[Slovene language|Slovene]]
| regional = [[Albanian language|Albanian]]
| minority = [[Aromanian language|Aromanian]], [[Bulgarian language|Bulgarian]], [[Czech language|Czech]], [[German language|German]], [[Hungarian language|Hungarian]], [[Italian language|Italian]], [[Venetian language|Venetian]], [[Balkan Romani|Romani]], [[Romanian language|Romanian]], [[Pannonian Rusyn]], [[Slovak language|Slovak]], [[Turkish language|Turkish]], [[Ukrainian language|Ukrainian]]
| foreign = [[Russian language|Russian]], [[English language|English]], [[French language|French]]
}}
'''Languages of Yugoslavia''' are all languages spoken in [[former Yugoslavia]]. They are mainly [[Indo-European languages]] and dialects, namely dominant [[South Slavic languages|South Slavic]] varieties ([[Serbo-Croatian]], [[Macedonian language|Macedonian]], and [[Slovene language|Slovene]]) as well as [[Albanian language|Albanian]], [[Aromanian language|Aromanian]], [[Bulgarian language|Bulgarian]], [[Czech language|Czech]], [[German language|German]], [[Italian language|Italian]], [[Venetian language|Venetian]], [[Balkan Romani]], [[Romanian language|Romanian]], [[Pannonian Rusyn]], [[Slovak language|Slovak]] and [[Ukrainian language|Ukrainian]] languages. There are also pockets where varieties of non-Indo-European languages, such as those of [[Hungarian language|Hungarian]] and [[Turkish language|Turkish]], are spoken.

== Language policies in Yugoslavia ==
From 1966, linguistic and ethnic divisions were part of the public discussion in Yugoslavia. [[Language policy|Language policies]] were delegated to the communal level. Language situation was reflected in each republic's constitution, and more detailed in communal constitutions.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|last=TOLLEFSON|first=JAMES W.|date=1980|title=Language Policy and National Stability in Yugoslavia|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/40870538|journal=Canadian Slavonic Papers / Revue Canadienne des Slavistes|volume=22|issue=4|pages=506–517|doi=10.1080/00085006.1980.11091645 |jstor=40870538 |issn=0008-5006|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

Yugoslavia established its language policies at the [[Federation|federal]], [[republic]], and communal levels.

Federal language policy was drafted by the following four principles:<ref name=":0" />

# Domestic measures were the basis of language policy.
# Special measures were required. Guaranteeing "[[Equality before the law|equal rights]]" for all ethnic groups was insufficient.
# Integration of all nations and nationalities depends upon the ability of the politico-administrative structure to provide mechanisms of expression.
# Each nation and nationality should have a direct voice in determining specific measures.

== List of languages in Yugoslavia ==
This is a list of the languages of the former country of [[Yugoslavia]]:

===Official languages at a republican level===
*[[Serbo-Croatian]] – a [[pluricentric language]] and [[dialect continuum]] of [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]], [[Croatia]], [[Montenegro]] and [[Serbia]], split into four [[standard variety|national standard varieties]] used in respective countries after the [[breakup of Yugoslavia]]: [[Bosnian language|Bosnian]], [[Croatian language|Croatian]], [[Montenegrin language|Montenegrin]] and [[Serbian language|Serbian]].
*[[Slovene language]] – the language of the [[Slovenes]] in [[Slovenia]]
*[[Macedonian language]] – the language of [[North Macedonia]] (previously the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia)

===Official minority languages===

Various minority languages were used officially at various sub-federal levels:

* In [[SAP Vojvodina]], there were four minority languages in official use:
** [[Hungarian language|Hungarian]];
** [[Romanian language|Romanian]];
** [[Pannonian Rusyn]];
** [[Slovak language|Slovak]].

* In [[SAP Kosovo]], [[Albanian language|Albanian]] was in official use.

* At a municipal level, the following languages were in official use:
** [[Albanian language|Albanian]], in parts of [[SR Macedonia]] and [[SR Montenegro]];
** [[Bulgarian language|Bulgarian]], in parts of [[SR Serbia]];
** [[Czech language|Czech]], in parts of [[SAP Vojvodina]], [[SR Slovenia]] and [[SR Croatia]];
** [[German language|German]], in parts of [[SR Croatia]] and [[SR Slovenia]];
** [[Hungarian language|Hungarian]], in parts of [[SR Slovenia]] and [[SR Croatia]];
** [[Italian language|Italian]], in parts of [[SR Slovenia]] and [[SR Croatia]];
** [[Pannonian Rusyn]], in parts of [[SR Croatia]] and [[SR Slovenia]];
** [[Slovak language|Slovak]], in parts of [[SR Croatia]] and [[SR Slovenia]];
** [[Turkish language|Turkish]], in parts of [[SAP Kosovo]] and [[SR Macedonia]];
** [[Ukrainian language|Ukrainian]], in parts of [[SR Croatia]] and [[SR Slovenia]].

===Non-official minority languages===
* The following minority languages had native speakers in the country, but were not in official use:
** [[Balkan Gagauz Turkish]], spoken by the Turkish people of [[SAP Kosovo]] and [[SR Macedonia]];
** [[Balkan Romani|Romani]], spoken throughout the country;<ref>{{cite web |url=https://balticworlds.com/romani-writers-and-the-legacies-of-yugoslavia/ |title=Romani writers and the legacies of Yugoslavia |website=Baltic Worlds |date=6 September 2018 |access-date=9 August 2022}}</ref>
** Romanian, spoken in parts of [[SR Serbia]] (especially [[Timok Valley]]).

== See also ==
*[[Languages of Bosnia and Herzegovina]]
*[[Languages of Croatia]] 
*[[Languages of Kosovo]]
*[[Languages of Montenegro]] 
*[[Languages of North Macedonia]]
*[[Languages of Serbia]] 
*[[Languages of Slovenia]]
*[[Yugoslav Sign Language]], a sign language based on Serbo-Croatian
*[[Languages of the Soviet Union]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Yugoslavia topics}}
{{Europe topic|Languages of}}
[[Category:Culture of Yugoslavia]]
[[Category:Language policy in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro and Serbia]]
[[Category:Languages of North Macedonia]]
[[Category:Languages of Slovenia]]
[[Category:Demographics of Yugoslavia]]


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