Understanding the dialects of the Croatian language

The linguistic landscape of Croatia is a story so fascinating and far from standard Croatian, as it is known from textbooks. Just like many languages that have evolved across diverse regions, Croatian flavors were developed in each area with a particular uniqueness characteristic of its local culture and history.

Think of Croatian not as a single language, but as a family of dialects that grew up side by side over centuries. The three main branches of this family are Shtokavian, Chakavian, and Kajkavian. While all three are alive and well today, Shtokavian-most particularly its modern form, Neo-Shtokavian-became the foundation for standard Croatian. This is the version you'll hear in the news, read in newspapers, and learn in schools.

But standard Croatian tells only part of the story. Each dialect has its own musicality, its own peculiarities of vocabulary, and grammar that reflects the rich heritage of different regions of Croatia. For anyone diving into Croatian-whether you're just starting out or already speaking fluently-understanding these dialects opens a window into how Croatians really communicate and helps explain why people from different parts of the country might sound so distinct from each other.

Now, let's go into details of how these dialects, especially Shtokavian, shaped what is known as the Croatian language today.

The Three Main Dialects of Croatian

Each of Croatian's three dialects-Shtokavian, Chakavian, and Kajkavian-all contribute something different to the history and culture of Croatia. Let's explore what makes each one unique.

1. The Shtokavian Dialect (Neo-Shtokavian)

The Shtokavian dialect is the most important and widespread dialect of the Croatian language; it acts as the very foundation of modern Standard Croatian. It belongs to the very core of the South Slavic dialects, and Neo-Shtokavian, in turn, holds an important place due to being a ground for standardized type.

Historically, it had been the bridge across the gap of different linguistics across the South Slavic territories, having been a lingua franca throughout the creation of the South Slavic states.

Introduction to Neo-Shtokavian

Neo-Shtokavian is a central variant of the Shtokavian dialect that has become predominant in Croatian literature, media, and education. In the 19th and 20th centuries, it spread widely throughout the Croatian-speaking areas and finally was formalized as the standard language. More specifically, the status of Neo-Shtokavian as the literary and media standard has been solidified both through relevant intellectual movements and influential figures in linguistics-first during the Illyrian movement and then in the process of crystallization of the Croatian nation as an independent identity.

Pronunciation: ijekavian vs. ekavian

Perhaps one of the most distinctive aspects of Neo-Shtokavian is a very specific pronunciation-its specific ijekavian and ekavian reflexes of the historical yat vowel. Ijekavian is representative for Standard Croatian and presupposes the pronunciation of some vowels-for instance, "e"-as "ije" or "je", which may sound softer or more distinct. At the same time, ekavian, represented in Serbian, presupposes a more simple pronunciation of the corresponding "e" sound. This difference in pronunciation, combined with accentual patterns, is one of the main features that distinguish Croatian from Serbian, especially in formal media and literature.

Key Regions: Where Neo-Shtokavian is Spoken

Neo-Shtokavian is spoken mainly in the central and southern parts of Croatia. It includes the capital city of Zagreb and its surroundings, and partly covers Slavonia, Syrmia, and Herzegovina. These areas were influential in the history of the Croatian language and thus played a great role in the formation and dissemination of Neo-Shtokavian as the basis of the standardized language. This dialect is also the predominant spoken variety in most of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro, besides the co-presence of other regional varieties.

2. The Chakavian Dialect

Another relevant component of the Croatian linguistic landscape is represented by the Chakavian dialect. Primarily spoken along the Adriatic coast and on the islands, Chakavian presents some characteristics that distinguish it from the Shtokavian dialect.

Characteristics and Features of Chakavian

Chakavian is unique in both its vocabulary and grammar, representing the result of centuries of historical influences exerted by Italian, Venetian, and other Mediterranean languages. This dialect stands out with the retention of ancient linguistic forms; it has certain particular expressions which are quite unique. Speaking this language often means usage of distinct words and phrases which are never heard in Standard Croatian, with pronunciation that may sound rather different from that of Shtokavian.

Example Phrases or Words Unique to Chakavian:

• "Kako si?" (Standard Croatian: "Kako si?" / English: "How are you?") becomes "Kak si?" in Chakavian.
• "Dida" (Standard Croatian: "Djed" / English: "Grandfather") in Chakavian.
• "Fala" (Standard Croatian: "Hvala" / English: "Thank you") is used in Chakavian as a short form.

These differences in vocabulary make Chakavian an interesting and distinctive dialect, although it is less commonly used in formal settings today.

3. The Kajkavian Dialect

The Kajkavian dialect is predominantly spoken in the northern regions of Croatia, particularly in areas around Zagreb and Moslavina. It is one of the three main dialects that contribute to the Croatian language but stands apart with its specific pronunciation and grammatical structures.

Features of Kajkavian

It is usually recognized by a special pronunciation, first of all in the field of vowels and some consonants. For example, Kajkavian speakers pronounce the word "what" as "kaj", whereas in Standard Croatian, it would be "što". The grammar also differs in the conjugation of verbs and noun declensions from Standard Croatian, making it sound quite different.

Differences in Pronunciation, Vocabulary, and Grammar Kajkavian is far more different in phonetics from both Shtokavian and Chakavian. It uses the Ikavian vowel reflex so much more explicitly, much like Ekavian. This makes for a notable difference in words such as "\rovek" (Standard Croatian: "\rovjek" / English: "man") being pronounced as "\rovek" in Kajkavian.

Example Phrases or Words Unique to Kajkavian:

• "Kaj si?" (Standard Croatian: "Što si?" / English: "What are you?")
• "Lep" (Standard Croatian: "Lijep" / English: "Beautiful").
• "Voziti" (Standard Croatian: "Vožnja" / English: "To drive") is used as a verb in Kajkavian.

These words and expressions showcase the rich, distinct nature of the Kajkavian dialect and its integral role in the Croatian linguistic landscape.

The Evolution of the Croatian Dialects and Their Influence

From Old Slavic to Modern Croatian

The Croatian language is similar to most languages in the South Slavic group, which developed over many centuries. The development of dialects of Croatian can be dated back to Old Slavic times, during which early Slavic-speaking tribes settled in the Balkans. Over time, the Croatian language began to differ from other Slavic languages, and regional dialects began to emerge.

The biggest influence on Croatian dialects was its rich history of passing from one lordship to another, be it Latin in Roman times, Venetian along the Adriatic coast, or Turkish in some parts of the country during Ottoman rule, which left ineffaceable prints on the Croatian dialects with regard to lexis and phonetics. Besides, the neighboring languages such as Serbian, Hungarian, and Italian showed up and gave even more importance to the diversity and regionality of Croatian patterns of speech.

While these historical influences forged Croatian phonetics and syntax, they even further deepened the differential in the dialects from one to another, every region accepting into its particular form of language certain linguistic elements fitting their special needs and historic situation.

The Standardization of the Croatian Language

The 19th century marked a pivotal moment in the evolution of Croatian, with efforts to standardize the language and solidify its identity as a separate entity from other South Slavic languages. Two key figures played crucial roles in this development: Vuk Karadžić and the Illyrian Movement.

Vuk Karadžić, a Serbian linguist, made significant contributions to the standardization of the Serbian language, but his work also influenced Croatian linguistic development. His insistence on phonetic spelling and the simplification of grammatical rules laid the groundwork for future Croatian language reforms. The Illyrian Movement, a cultural and political initiative, sought to unify the South Slavic peoples by promoting the use of a common language. This movement advocated for the use of a simplified and standardized version of Croatian, which eventually led to the adoption of Neo-Shtokavian as the basis for the standardized language.

By the late 19th century, Neo-Štokavian had become regarded as the most pervasive dialect in the fields of education, literature, and mass media concerning Croatian. Indeed, Neo-Štokavian is used as the formal and cultural variety because it happens to be the most widespread in central and southern Croatia, where intense intellectual and nationalist traditions solidified it as the dialect of choice when the standard was being developed.

Neo-Shtokavian: The Basis of Standard Croatian

What Makes Neo-Shtokavian Special?

Neo-Shtokavian frequently appears as some kind of a bridge among the Croatian dialects due to its linguistic features and its role within the process of standardization. Few linguistic and political factors make Neo-Shtokavian different from other Shtokavian varieties to the extent of being the obvious basis on which modern standard language can be developed.

One of the most salient characteristics of Neo-Shtokavian is its accentuation. Neo-Shtokavian, on the other hand, stresses certain syllables in each word, influencing pronunciation and often even meaning. In addition, the Neo-Shtokavian lexis underwent great standardization in which many local forms were superseded by the more generally understandable.

While this regional ijekavian pronunciation became standard in Neo-Shtokavian, the use of ekavian in other parts of the Balkans-like Serbia-further developed different linguistic identities. All these factors, combined with the fact that it is comparatively widely used in Croatian-speaking areas, made Neo-Shtokavian the perfect basis for Standard Croatian.

The Importance of Neo-Shtokavian in Modern Croatian

Nowadays, Neo-Shtokavian is the predominant variety of Croatian; it has the greatest influence on spoken and written speech. This dialect variety represents the central spoken vernacular, widely adopted by media, literature, and education as an everyday, almost universally applicable means of formal use in broadcasting, publication, etc. It is the variety utilized by the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts and as such stands at the heart of the country's cultural life.

For learners of Croatian, Neo-Shtokavian is the standardized form of the language and thus the most approachable variant in which to learn formal and public discourses: listening to Croatian radio, reading books, or attending academic seminars-the refined and pervasive variety learners will be exposed to is Neo-Shtokavian.

Examples of Media and Literature Using Neo-Shtokavian:

• Television programs and news broadcasts often use Neo-Shtokavian for clear, standardized communication.
• Croatian literature is mostly in Neo-Shtokavian: novels written by authors Miroslav Krleža and Pavao Pavli\rić are just a few examples.

Neo-Shtokavian accent patterns are crucial for correct pronunciation and comprehension. The most important variant is the ijekavian variant, on which Standard Croatian pronunciation is based. In the ijekavian variant, in some words, vowels like "e" or "o" are pronounced with this specific sound, mostly spelled as "ije" or "je."

Accentuation and vowel pronunciation are crucial in Croatian, as they determine the meaning of words and the flow of speech. For example, the word "lijep" (meaning "beautiful") is pronounced with an accent on the first syllable in Neo-Shtokavian, while "lep" (used in other dialects like Kajkavian) follows a different accent pattern.

Example Words Demonstrating Accentual Variations:

• "lijep" (Neo-Shtokavian: beautiful) vs. "lep" (Kajkavian: beautiful).
• "ćevapčići" (Neo-Shtokavian: a type of grilled meat) vs. "ćevapi" (Serbian and some other dialects: plural form).
• "hrvatski" (Neo-Shtokavian: Croatian) vs. "hrvatski" (with different accents in other dialects).

Mastering the ijekavian pronunciation of Neo-Shtokavian will definitely provide more clarity and precision for learners of Croatian in both its written and spoken forms. The Neo-Shtokavian variant, with its emphasis on correct accentuation, helps learners pronounce Croatian words more naturally and accurately, which improves communication and comprehension.

Why Dialects Matter when learning Croatian

While you will be mainly exposed to Neo-Shtokavian in formal situations, other Croatian dialects give you a great insight into the language and culture. In everyday life, especially in conversations with locals from different regions, dialectical features can influence vocabulary, pronunciation, and even grammar. Understanding these variations will help you speak more naturally and understand regional expressions.

For example, Kajkavian is used throughout northern Croatia, and Chakavian is spoken along the Adriatic coast. All of these dialects have their peculiar words and pronunciations that you might happen to get across while traveling or talking with locals. Knowing the differences in dialects will make it easier to understand various forms of Croatian literature, songs, and regional media.

Conclusion

We hope you've enjoyed this article and that it has helped you understand the dialects of the Croatian language. Feel free to explore our other articles on the Croatian language and culture to learn more about this fascinating language.