An Analysis of the 2024 Croatian Language Act and a Comparison with Similar Laws in Neighboring Countries

Abstract

Since Croatia gained independence, the language issue has often been a major topic of political debate. The common past of the former Yugoslavia, the not-so-glorious experience of linguistic community with the Serbs, and the challenges of the globalized world have encouraged state decision-makers to enact a language law. Although the law was proposed by linguists, the opposition has created a public image that it is a law for “language protection” and Croatian “language puritanism”. Sovereigntists, on the other hand, not only supported the law, but also accused the government of waiting too long. They believe that the government did not have the courage to take this step until Serbia had adopted a similar law. Since language laws have been adopted outside Serbia in Slovenia, the Serbian entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo and Hungary, in this study, within the framework of a comparative study, we try to point out the main features of the laws of the Southeastern European countries.