is serbian and croatian the same language?
It's a complex question with a nuanced answer, but here's a breakdown of the linguistic and political factors:
1. Linguistic Perspective: Highly Similar and Mutually Intelligible
Mutual intelligibility: Serbian and Croatian, along with Bosnian and Montenegrin, are generally considered to be mutually intelligible, meaning that speakers of one can understand the others without much difficulty.
Shared roots: All four languages are based on the same dialect (Shtokavian) and subdialect (Eastern Herzegovinian) of the former Serbo-Croatian language.
Grammar and structure: They share a largely identical grammatical structure and phonetic system.
Vocabulary: While some differences exist in vocabulary, the vast majority of words are the same or very similar.
2. Political and Social Perspective: Separate Languages
National identities: Following the breakup of Yugoslavia, each of these languages is associated with a separate nation (Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia, Montenegro).
Standardization: Each has its own standard form, regulated by its respective national institutions.
Purism and distinctiveness: There is sometimes an effort to emphasize differences and establish distinct vocabulary to further separate the languages.
Controversy: The question of whether they are one or multiple languages is still politically sensitive, especially among some Croatian and Serbian linguists and speakers.
In summary:
Linguistically, Serbian and Croatian are extremely similar and highly mutually intelligible, leading many to consider them variants of the same language.
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