Czech–Slovak
Geographic
distribution
Central Europe
Linguistic classificationIndo-European
Early forms
Subdivisions
Glottologczec1260
Czech–Slovak within West Slavic

The Czech–Slovak languages (or Czecho-Slovak) are a subgroup within the West Slavic languages comprising the Czech and Slovak languages.

Most varieties of Czech and Slovak are mutually intelligible, forming a dialect continuum (spanning the intermediate Moravian dialects) rather than being two clearly distinct languages; standardised forms of these two languages are, however, easily distinguishable and recognizable because of disparate vocabulary, orthography, pronunciation, phonology, suffixes and prefixes. The eastern Slovak dialects are more divergent and form a broader dialect continuum with the Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic, most notably Polish.

The name "Czechoslovak language" is mostly reserved for an official written standard intended to unify Czech and Slovak created in the 19th century, but to a greater extent based on Czech rather than Slovak.

History

The early Slavic expansion reached Central Europe in the 7th century, and the West Slavic dialects diverged from common Slavic over the following centuries. The West Slavic tribes settled on the eastern fringes of the Carolingian Empire, along the Limes Saxoniae. Prior to the Magyar invasion of Pannonia in the 890s, the West Slavic polity of Great Moravia spanned much of Central Europe between what is now Eastern Germany and Western Romania. In the high medieval period, the West Slavic tribes were again pushed to the east by the incipient German Ostsiedlung, decisively so following the Wendish Crusade in the 11th century.

West Slavic as a group distinct from common Slavic thus emerges during the 7th to 9th centuries. The Czech-Slovak in turn develops as a separate dialect continuum within West Slavic during roughly the 10th to 12th centuries, just predating the first written attestation of the language in the 13th to 14th centuries. The diversification of West Slavic had the characteristic of a dialect continuum. For example, the spirantisation of Slavic /g/ to /h/ is an areal feature shared by the Czech-Slovak group with both Ukrainian and Sorbian (but not with Polish). This innovation appears to have traveled from east to west, and is sometimes attributed to contact with Scytho-Sarmatian.[1] It is approximately dated to the 12th century in Slovak, the 12th to 13th century in Czech and the 14th century in Upper Sorbian.[2]

The Bohemian state was incorporated as the Kingdom of Bohemia in the 13th century. The Slovaks, on the other hand, never became part of the Holy Roman Empire in the medieval period, being incorporated into the Kingdom of Hungary. For this reason, the history of the closely related Czech and Slovak peoples took a significantly different course during the later medieval period, the Czechs being associated with the Holy Roman Empire and the Slovaks being affected by the history of Eastern Europe (the history of Hungary and the Mongol invasion). In the 16th century, however, they were once again united under Habsburg rule, and after the fall of the Habsburg monarchy sharing their own country of Czechoslovakia during 1918–1992.

In the modern period, the spoken language of Bohemia became influenced by the written standard and developed into Common Czech, largely effacing dialectal variation within Bohemia. By contrast, Moravia remained dialectally diverse, with a series of variants intermediate between Czech and Slovak,[3] and are thus sometimes viewed as dialects of Slovak rather than Czech. The Czech–Slovak group was summarized under the term "Bohemian–Moravian–Slovak" (Böhmisch-Mährisch-Slowakisch) in the Austrian census of Cisleithania beginning in the 1880s.[4]

The Czechoslovak language was an attempt to create a single written standard, first proposed during the national revival in the 1830s and the official language of the First Czechoslovak Republic from 1920 to 1938.

In television and radio, Czech and Slovak were used in equal ratios. Since the dissolution of Czechoslovakia in 1993, the Czech and Slovak written standards have been the official languages of the Czech Republic and Slovakia, respectively.

Beginning in the 1990s, a political movement of Moravian linguistic separatism has developed. [5] On the occasion of 2011 Census of the Czech Republic, several Moravian organizations (Moravané and Moravian National Community among others) led a campaign to promote the Moravian nationality and language. The 2011 census recorded 62,908 native speakers of Moravian.[6]

Varieties

The Czech-Slovak dialect continuum historically blended into Silesian in the west and Old Ruthenian (also known as Chancery Slavonic) in the east. With the development of the written standards in the 19th century, it has become less diversified, but there remains a pronounced dialectal division in Moravia. The southeastern Moravian dialects, in particular, are sometimes considered dialects of Slovak rather than Czech, e.g. using the same declension patterns for nouns and pronouns and the same verb conjugations as Slovak.[7]

In a 1964 textbook on Czech dialectology, Břetislav Koudela used the sentence "Put the flour from the mill in the cart" to highlight phonetic differences between dialects:[11]

Standard Czech:Dej mouku ze mna na vozík.
Standard Slovak:Daj múku z mlyna na vozík.

Comparison of written standards

The following comparison concerns the contemporary written standards:

Orthography

Slovak graphemes that do not exist in Czech are: ä, ľ, ĺ, ŕ, ô. Czech graphemes that do not exist in Slovak are: ě, ř and ů (see Pronunciation for Czech language and Pronunciation for Slovak language).

Phonology

Slovak has the following phonemes which Czech does not have: /ʎ/, /rː/, /lː/, and the diphthongs /ɪɐ/, /ɪe/, /ɪʊ/, /ʊo/ (also /ɛɐ/ in higher-style standard Slovak, or some dialects); and on the contrary, Czech has /r̝/. Slovak, unlike Czech, uses palatal consonants more frequently (that is, is phonetically "softer"), but there are some exceptions. Slovak de, te, ne are usually pronounced as the Czech , , . The "rhythmic law" in Slovak prohibits two adjacent long syllables.[12][13]

Grammar

Slovak grammar is somewhat more regular than the grammar of literary Czech, since present-day standard Slovak was not codified until the 19th century. The two languages have differences in declension and conjugation endings and paradigms (e.g. Slovak -cia, -ej, -dlo, , -ov, -om, -mi – Czech -c(i)e, , -tko, -t, , -em, y). Slovak does not commonly use the vocative case, while the Czech vocative is still very much alive.[14] Slovak uses the passive voice formed as in English less than Czech, and prefers the passive voice formed using the reflexive pronoun sa (as in East Slavic languages) instead.

Lexicon

Lexical differences are mostly of simple historical origin. As for professional terminology, except for biology (esp. all names of animals and plants), the Czech terminology was mostly taken over (in Slovakised form) for practical reasons. The Czech-Slovak Dictionary of Different Terms (1989, Prague) contains some 11,000 entries (without professional terminology):

Examples of basic different words
EnglishSlovakCzech
yeahhejjo
ifakjestli, jestliže, -li
really, actuallynaozajopravdu
just, onlyiba, lenpouze, jenom, jen
to likepáčiť salíbit se
as welltiežtaké, taky, (less commonly) též
butveďvždyť
hothorúcihorký
let, maynechať, nechť
to wishželaťpřát
to seezbadaťspatřit
next topri, popri, vedľavedle
cemeterycintorínhřbitov
especiallynajmäpředevším, obzvlášť, zejména
to forgive, to excuseprepáčiťprominout
apart from, besidesokremkromě, mimo, vyjma
operation (of machine)prevádzkaprovoz, chod
trafficpremávkaprovoz
warvojnaválka, (less commonly) vojna
currentterajšístávající
badzlýšpatný
worse (adv.)horšiehůř
to goísťjet, jít
as soon aslen čojakmile
to forgetzabudnúťzapomenout
oncerazjednou
nextbudúcipříští
ballloptamíč
buttongombíkknoflík
pubkrčmahospoda
stamppečiatkarazítko
roomizbapokoj
to acquirenadobudnúťnabýt
behavioursprávaniechování
to listenpočuťslyšet
to watch (TV)pozerať (televíziu)dívat se na (televizi)
to lookpozeraťkoukat
to look likevyzeraťvypadat
to say, to speakpovedať, vravieťříct, mluvit
pocketvreckokapsa
to clean upupratovaťuklízet
becausekeďžejelikož
surnamepriezviskopříjmení
cellarpivnicasklep
includingvrátanevčetně
autumnjeseňpodzim
be called (as in name),volať sajmenovat se
boychalankluk
girldievčaholka, děvče
breakfastraňajkysnídaně
to countrátať, počítaťpočítat
snackolovrantsvačina
to clug, to stuffpchaťcpát
laundrybielizeňprádlo
press, newspapertlačtisk
althoughhociačkoliv
pillowvankúšpolštář
that isčižečili
thirstsmädžízeň
strike (of employees)štrajkstávka
bet, wager, stakestávkasázka
racepretekyzávod
Good byedovideniana shledanou
catmačkakočka
blackbirddrozdkos
to kissbozkaťlíbat
nowterazteď, nyní
goodstovarzboží
potatoeszemiakybrambory
trapklepec, pascapast, léčka
the same, equalrovnakýstejný
dishesriadnádobí
tissue, handkerchiefvreckovkakapesník
be surprised, wonderčudovať sadivit se
pencilceruzkatužka
perhapsazda, vari, snáďsnad
easyľahkýsnadný, lehký
troubleťažkosťpotíž, nesnáz
baggagebatožinazavazadlo
branchkonárvětev
to meetstretnúť sasetkat se, potkat
spinechrbticapáteř
he/she/it is notnie jenení
to do, to makerobiť, spraviťdělat, udělat
to apologize, to excuseospravedlniť saomluvit se
to smokefajčiťkouřit
whateverhocičo, voľačoleccos, cokoliv
blueberryčučoriedkaborůvka
apricotmarhuľameruňka
cabbagekapustazelí
Savoy cabbagekelkapusta
legume, pulsesstrukovinyluštěniny
chickpeascícercizrna
lentilsšošovicačočka
ryeražžito
demanddopytpoptávka
offer; supplyponukanabídka
early, soonskoro, čoskorobrzy
earlier, soonerskôrdřív
lateneskorý, neskoropozdní, opožděný, pozdě
laterneskôrpozději
suddenlyzrazunajednou
fairy talerozprávkapohádka
tramwayelektričkatramvaj
porkbravčovévepřové
muttonbaraninaskopové
breastfeeddojčiťkojit
infantdojčakojenec
babybábätkomiminko
(the) rest (of a group)zvyšokzbytek
lipsperyrty
lipstickrúžrtěnka
flockkŕdeľhejno
railway station(železničná) stanicanádraží
despitenaprieknavzdory
whenkeďkdyž
glass (of water)pohársklenice, sklenička
pepperčierne koreniepepř
illchorýnemocný
illnesschorobanemoc, (less commonly) choroba
dotbodkatečka
wallmúrzeď
bricklayermurárzedník
shoulderplecerameno
to heatkúriťtopit
turtlekorytnačkaželva
camelťavavelbloud
even (number)párnysudý
odd (number)nepárnylichý
finallynapokonnakonec
butchermäsiarřezník
slim, thinchudýhubený
poorchudobnýchudý

Examples of words with different meanings: SK topiť (to melt/to drown) (could be same meanings, depends on region) – CZ topit (to heat/to drown), SK kúriť (to heat) – CZ kouřit (to smoke), SK horký (bitter) – CZ horký (hot) but hořký (bitter), SK stávka (stake, bet) – CZ stávka (strike), SK chudý (slim, skinny) – CZ chudý (poor; metaphorically also slim), SK kapusta (cabbage) – CZ kapusta (Savoy cabbage), SK pivnica (cellar) – CZ pivnice (pub), SK syrový (cheesy, of cheese) – CZ syrový (raw, uncooked) but sýrový (of cheese), SK spraviť (to make, to create) – CZ spravit (to repair, to fix). Czech months are of Slavic origin (e.g. říjen), whereas the Slovak months are of Latin origin (e.g. október).

Although most words are in fact different, they are largely similar, being cognates, which makes both languages mutually intelligible to a significant extent; e.g. foreign (SK cudzí – CZ cizí), reason (SK dôvod – CZ důvod), to want (SK chcieť – CZ chtít), to promise (SK sľubovať – CZ slibovat), if (SK keby – CZ kdyby), river (SK rieka – CZ řeka), church (SK kostol – CZ kostel), wedding (SK svadobný – CZ svatební), who (SK kto – CZ kdo), to ask (SK spýtať sa – CZ zeptat se), to fail (SK zlyhať – CZ selhat), almost (SK takmer – CZ téměř), thanks (SK ďakujem, vďaka – CZ děkuju, díky).

Example text

Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in Slovak:

Všetci ľudia sa rodia slobodní a rovní v dôstojnosti aj právach. Sú obdarení rozumom a svedomím a majú sa k sebe správať v duchu bratstva.

Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in Czech (adjusted to Slovak translation):

Všichni lidé se rodí svobodní a rovní v důstojnosti i právech. Jsou obdařeni rozumem a svědomím a mají se k sobě chovat v duchu bratrství.

Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in English:

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.

See also

References

  1. Абаев В. И. О происхождении фонемы g (h) в славянском языке // Проблемы индоевропейского языкознания. М., 1964, 115—121. Эдельман Д. И. К происхождению ирано-славянских диахронических паралелей // Славянская языковая и этноязыковая системы в контакте с неславянским окружением. М., 2002, 76—77.
  2. Pronk-Tiethoff, The Germanic loanwords in Proto-Slavic, 2013, p. 71 (fn 26))
  3. Kortmann & van der Auwera 2011, p. 516).
  4. Kortmann & van der Auwera 2011, p. 714.
  5. BLÁHA, Ondřej. Moravský jazykový separatismus: zdroje, cíle, slovanský kontext. In Studia Moravica. Acta Universitatis Palackianae Olomucensis Facultas Philosophica – Moravica. Olomouc : UP v Olomouci, 2005. ISSN 1801-7061. Svazek III.
  6. Tab. 153 Obyvatelstvo podle národnosti, mateřského jazyka a podle pohlaví (czso.cz)
  7. Šustek, Zbyšek (1998). "Otázka kodifikace spisovného moravského jazyka (The question of codifying a written Moravian language)" (in Czech). University of Tartu. Retrieved July 21, 2014.
  8. Eckert 1993, pp. 143–144
  9. Wilson 2010, p. 21. Compared to standard Czech, Common Czech is characterized by simpler inflection patterns and some phonological differences. Daneš, František (2003). "The present-day situation of Czech". Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic. Retrieved August 10, 2014.
  10. Wilson 2010, pp. 49f..
  11. Koudela, Břetislav (1964). Vývoj českého jazyka a dialektologie. Československé státní pedagogické nakladatelství. p. 173.
  12. Christina Y. Bethin, Slavic Prosody: Language Change and Phonological Theory (1998), p. 217.
  13. Scheer, Tobias (2001). "The Rhythmic Law in Czech: Vowel-final Prefixes" (PDF). Current Issues in Formal Slavic Linguistics: 37–48. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
  14. Sussex, Rolan; Cubberley, Paul (2011). The Slavic Languages. Cambridge Language Surveys. pp. 57–58. ISBN 978-0-521-29448-5.

Bibliography

  • Eckert, Eva (1993). Varieties of Czech: Studies in Czech Sociolinguistics. Editions Rodopi. ISBN 978-90-5183-490-1.
  • Kortmann, Bernd; van der Auwera, Johan (2011). The Languages and Linguistics of Europe: A Comprehensive Guide. Walter de Gruyter. ISBN 978-3110220261.
  • Wilson, James (2010). Moravians in Prague: A Sociolinguistic Study of Dialect Contact in the Czech Republic. Peter Lang. pp. 49–50.
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