Slovenian Language
Slovenian is the national language of the Republic of Slovenia and
Slovenian minorities in Austria, Italy and Hungary. One of the family
of Slavic languages, it is closest to Croatian and Serbian. Slovenian
immigrant groups in USA, Canada, South America and Australia also
speak it. The population of Slovenia is two million. There are 500,000
Slovenians living beyond Slovenian borders.
In common with all Slavic languages, Slovenian has developed from
the Old Slavic that has been retained in the liturgy of Slavic churches,
similarly to Latin in the Catholic Church of Western Europe.
The first documents in Slovenian - Brizinski Spomeniki (The Freising
Manuscripts) - the first written texts in any Slavic language - were
written in the 9th century. While possessing a rich oral tradition
of tales, songs and legends, Slovenian people first achieved literacy
with the Reformation. The complete Bible in Slovenian language was
published in 1583, amongst the first ten languages of Europe.
Slovenian literature reached its first peak at the beginning of the
19th century in the extraordinary work of the poet France Preseren.
He introduced major poetic forms and concepts into Slovenian literature;
thus establishing Slovenian literature in the European cultural landscape.
Since that time Slovenian literature has flourished, and continues
to be a major expression of cultural identity and national consciousness.
Slovenian writers and poets have achieved international acclaim and
have been translated into many languages - among them are contemporary
authors - Ales Debeljak, Andrej Blatnik, Evald Flisar, Tomaz Salamun,
and Drago Jancar.
Slovenians have a long tradition of high quality book publishing
and translating literary and other significant works into Slovenian.
Slovenia has two universities, Ljubljana and Maribor, both catering
to foreign students. They also offer a number of well-attended Slovenian
language courses.
The knowledge of Slovenian language provides: access to all Slavic
languages, is of benefit for use in commerce, travel or further
studies.
Slovenian Language in Australia
Slovenian language has been taught in Australia for the last 30 years
everywhere where Slovenian immigrants gathered for social, cultural
or religious purposes at Slovenian centres and organizations. Children
were taught basic Slovenian in combination with cultural activities
and participation in annual festivities such as St. Nicholas Day,
Christmas, Easter, Mothers’ and Fathers’ Day, in which children took
a major role in the performance of: plays, songs and folk-dances.
These cultural events established a strong tradition, which still
continues today.
In 1976 the first steps were taken to establish Slovenian as an elective
subject in the Australian state school system. In 1977 six classes
of Slovenian were offered at the secondary - level junior and senior
- at three centres of the government school, Victorian School of Languages.
This was the first time that Slovenian was an accredited systemic
school subject anywhere outside the Slovenian-speaking territories
of central Europe. Higher School Certificate (VCE in Victoria) was
also established by 1980 and continues to be offered.
The school still offers Slovenian at the Princes Hill Secondary College
Centre, in Melbourne.
For information contact:
The Institute for Slovenian Language of Victoria,
tel: 03 9544 0595
In 1979 The Saturday School of Community Languages in Sydney, New
South Wales also opened classes at secondary levels and established
Higher School Certificate accreditation for Slovenian language in
NSW.
Slovenian is now taught at the Bankstown Girls’ High School.
For information contact:
The Saturday School of Community Languages,
tel: 02 9644 5638
Macquarie University in Sydney offered a Slovenian tertiary 3 year
course from 1989 to 1996. It was also offered as a long distance education
course.
