From: dmatic@athena.mit.edu (Davor Matic)
Subject: Re: SERBIAN LANGUAGE
Organization: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Date: Wed, 22 Jul 1992 17:47:30 GMT

In article <1992Jul21.213816.4668@gw.wmich.edu> condic@gw.wmich.edu writes:
>I am pleased to see the almost completely civil discussion
>about the identity of the Serbian and Croatian languages.
>I am, however, saddened by presentation of mostly pure
>opinion on the topic, rather than well-grounded opinion
>[based on sound evidence and arguments]. Unfortunately,
>the issue is exceedingly complex and so well-grounded
>opinions are difficult to arrive at, even for "experts"
>in the field. It is significant that almost all professors
>of linguistics in Croatia insist that Croatian and Serbian
>are distinct languages, while almost all professors of
>linguistics in Serbia insist there are only dialectical
>variants of the same language.

And why do you suppose that is so?  It has to do with opression.  It
has to with denial of Croatian cultural heritage, Croatian language,
banning Croatian words, etc.  All these Serbian professors come from
the same institution that is proponent of Great Serbia.  And what is
the biggest barrier when assimilating another nation.  Language, of
course!  Coreating Serbo-Croatian was a subtle example of Great Serbian
tendencies. The denial of Croatian language, Croatian land, and
Croatian cultural heritage all go hand in hand with what's going on 
in the country right now.  The trouble that Serbs have with recognizing
Croatia as an independant country, and the claims that Coratian and Serbian
are actually the same language is not coincindental.  They both are the
product of the Great Serbian ideology.

>I've read some of the literature, and have formed an 'opinion'
>on the topic, but since i am not prepared to write an
>extended article presenting the evidence and arguments, I
>will refrain from expressing it [except by personal communications].
>I urge those seriously interested to start reading the literature
>on this topic.
>

I have to admit that I don't understand your calls on literature and
accademic expertese.  Language is not about intellectuals, it is about
what people speak.  Language has been manipulated in the past by
polititians and intellectuals, but the truth about a language is with
the people that sepak it.  The fact is that different languages are
spoken in Croatia and Serbia.  These are not two different dialects,
these are to different literary forms.  And no matter how hard some
Serbian intelectuals try to fit these two languages uder the same hat,
they will remain different.  Once they tried to make them more alike
by banning certain Croatian words.  An act like that is very wrong no
matter how many doctorates or diplomas these people have.

>Thanks, lets all strive to remain civil.
>-- 
>************************************************************
>ANYONE CAN HAVE AN OPINION ON ANYTHING,INSTANTANEOUSLY! BUT,
>OPINIONS, AS SUCH, ARE GENERALLY WORTHLESS, UNLESS THEY ARE
>WELL-GROUNDED ON SOUND EVIDENCE AND VALID ARGUMENTS! J.CONDIC,
>E-MAIL:CONDIC@GW:WMICH.EDU;GEN.STUDIES,WMU,KALAMAZOO,MI 49008
>*************************************************************

Well, if one does have an elaborate, evidence backed opinion, he
shouldn't have much trouble disputing someone's instantaneous opinion.
It's not people expressing their opinions that we have to worry about,
it's the people that would like to stop others from expressing their
opinions that we have to be worried about.   So if anyone feels like
saying something, say it!  That's what this media is for!

Regards,
Davor

Newsgroups: soc.culture.yugoslavia