Moravian language
Encyclopedia
Moravian is the form of the Czech language
spoken in Moravia
, a historical region in the east of the Czech Republic
. While generally viewed as a regional variant of Czech, part of Moravians claim it to be a separate language.
Until the 19th century, the language used in Slavic-speaking areas of Moravia was referred to as ‘Moravian’. When in 1880 regular censuses started in Austria-Hungary
, the choice of mother tongues in the forms included the item Bohemian—Moravian—Slovak (the others being German, Polish, Rusyn, Slovene, Serbo-Croatian, Italian, Romanian and Hungarian).
On the occasion of 2011 Census of the Czech Republic, several Moravian organizations (Moravané
, Moravian National Community
etc.) led a campaign to promote the Moravian nationality and language. The Czech Statistical Office
assigned them their own codes and confirmed that these items would be treated separately from the Czech nationality and language, respectively.
have merged into one interdialect, Common Czech
, the territory of Moravia is still linguistically diversified. The most common classification distinguishes four major groups of Moravian dialects:
Some typical phonological differences between the Moravian dialects are shown below on the sentence ‘Put the flour from the mill in the cart’:
In Czech the standardization abolished the old traditionally Czech dialects, but in Moravia the dialects survived through the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands
. The Czech linguists refer, that the Moravian is not unified because of the different dialects, therefore not language, but few languages (German
, Slovene, Swedish
) with many dialects is not unified languages.
and East Slavic languages
, but of Czech language not. The suffix of the masculine inflection in the Locative case
Moravian: v Bystrcu (in Bystrc).
Czech language
Czech is a West Slavic language with about 12 million native speakers; it is the majority language in the Czech Republic and spoken by Czechs worldwide. The language was known as Bohemian in English until the late 19th century...
spoken in Moravia
Moravia
Moravia is a historical region in Central Europe in the east of the Czech Republic, and one of the former Czech lands, together with Bohemia and Silesia. It takes its name from the Morava River which rises in the northwest of the region...
, a historical region in the east of the Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
. While generally viewed as a regional variant of Czech, part of Moravians claim it to be a separate language.
Until the 19th century, the language used in Slavic-speaking areas of Moravia was referred to as ‘Moravian’. When in 1880 regular censuses started in Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary , more formally known as the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen, was a constitutional monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in...
, the choice of mother tongues in the forms included the item Bohemian—Moravian—Slovak (the others being German, Polish, Rusyn, Slovene, Serbo-Croatian, Italian, Romanian and Hungarian).
On the occasion of 2011 Census of the Czech Republic, several Moravian organizations (Moravané
Moravané
Moravané is a small non-parliamentary political party in Moravia in the Czech Republic.-History:It arose in 2005 by the coalescence of older two regional parties: Hnutí samosprávné Moravy a Slezska – Moravské národní sjednocení and Moravská demokratická strana Moravané ("Moravians") is a small...
, Moravian National Community
Moravian National Community
The Moravian National Community is a non-political civic association focused on Moravian culture, history, traditions and Moravia in general. In practice, however, it also strives to achieve certain political goals, for instance the restoration of a legislative body for the Moravian territory...
etc.) led a campaign to promote the Moravian nationality and language. The Czech Statistical Office
Czech Statistical Office
The Czech Statistical Office is the main organization which collects, analyzes and disseminates statistical information for the benefit of the various parts of the local and national governments of the Czech Republic...
assigned them their own codes and confirmed that these items would be treated separately from the Czech nationality and language, respectively.
Dialects
While the former regional dialects of BohemiaBohemia
Bohemia is a historical region in central Europe, occupying the western two-thirds of the traditional Czech Lands. It is located in the contemporary Czech Republic with its capital in Prague...
have merged into one interdialect, Common Czech
Common Czech
Common Czech is a colloquial variant of the Czech language. It is usually defined as an interdialect used in common speech in Bohemia and western parts of Moravia . Common Czech is not codified, but some of its elements can get into the standard language...
, the territory of Moravia is still linguistically diversified. The most common classification distinguishes four major groups of Moravian dialects:
- Central Moravian or Hanák dialects, spoken in the central part of Moravia around ZnojmoZnojmoZnojmo is a city in the South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic, near the border with Lower Austria, connected to Vienna by railway and road . The royal city of Znojmo was founded shortly before 1226 by King Ottokar I on the plains in front of Znojmo Castle...
, TřebíčTrebícTřebíč is a city in the Moravian part of the Vysočina Region of the Czech Republic.Třebíč is situated 35 km southeast of Jihlava and 65 km west of Brno on the Jihlava River. Třebíč is from 392 to 503 metres above sea-level....
, BrnoBrnoBrno by population and area is the second largest city in the Czech Republic, the largest Moravian city, and the historical capital city of the Margraviate of Moravia. Brno is the administrative centre of the South Moravian Region where it forms a separate district Brno-City District...
, OlomoucOlomoucOlomouc is a city in Moravia, in the east of the Czech Republic. The city is located on the Morava river and is the ecclesiastical metropolis and historical capital city of Moravia. Nowadays, it is an administrative centre of the Olomouc Region and sixth largest city in the Czech Republic...
, PřerovPrerovPřerov is a town in the Olomouc Region of the Czech Republic where the Bečva river flows through. Přerov is a statute town . It has population of about 47,373 to January 2, 2008. Přerov is about 22 km south west of Olomouc. In the past it was a major crossroad in the heart of Moravia in the...
, ZábřehZábrehZábřeh is a town in the Olomouc Region of the Czech Republic. It has around 14,500 inhabitants. The town itself is built up "behind the bank" of the Moravská Sázava river.-History:...
and ŠumperkŠumperkŠumperk is a town and district in the Olomouc Region of the Czech Republic. It is called "The Gate to Jeseníky mountains."- History :Šumperk was founded by German colonists in 1269. The German name Schönberg means "beautiful hill", and the name Šumperk is a Czech garbling of the original German...
. - Eastern Moravian or Moravian-Slovak dialects, spoken in the strip of land extending from BřeclavBreclavBřeclav is a town in the South Moravian Region, Czech Republic, approximately 55 km southeast of Brno. It is located at the border with Lower Austria on the Dyje River. The nearest large town on Austrian territory is Hohenau an der March...
to HodonínHodonínHodonín is a town on the River Morava in the southeast of Moravia, in the Czech Republic. It lies in the South Moravian Region. The population is 26,226 . Hodonín was first mentioned in 1046. In 1228 it became a town...
, KyjovKyjovKyjov is name of several locations:Czech Republic* Kyjov, a town in South Moravian Region ** Kyjov Hills, part of Carpathians** Kyjov Airport* Kyjov, a village in Vysočina Region...
, Uherské HradištěUherské HradišteUherské Hradiště is a town in the Zlín Region of the Czech Republic. It lies on the Morava river and is the seat of the Uherské Hradiště District.- History :...
, ZlínZlínZlín , from 1949 to 1989 Gottwaldov , is a city in the Zlín Region, southeastern Moravia, Czech Republic, on the Dřevnice River. The development of the modern city is closely connected to the Bata Shoes company...
and VsetínVsetínVsetín is a town in Zlín Region of the Czech Republic. It has around 28,500 inhabitants and lies on the Vsetínská Bečva river.The area around Vsetín, called Vsetínsko, is spread out on the foothills of the Vsetín, Hostýn and Vizovice Highlands around the Bečva River...
. This group shares numerous features with Western Slovak dialects. - Lach dialectsLach dialectsThe Lach dialects , are a group of dialects of Silesian language. They represent a hybrid or mix of the West Slavic languages.The Lach dialects are spoken in parts of Czech Silesia, the Hlučín region, and northeastern Moravia, as well as in some adjacent villages in Poland...
, spoken in north-eastern Moravia and the adjacent regions of Silesia around OpavaOpavaOpava is a city in the northern Czech Republic on the river Opava, located to the north-west of Ostrava. The historical capital of Czech Silesia, Opava is now in the Moravian-Silesian Region and has a population of 59,843 as of January 1, 2005....
, OstravaOstravaOstrava is the third largest city in the Czech Republic and the second largest urban agglomeration after Prague. Located close to the Polish border, it is also the administrative center of the Moravian-Silesian Region and of the Municipality with Extended Competence. Ostrava was candidate for the...
, Frýdek-MístekFrýdek-MístekFrýdek-Místek is a city in Moravian-Silesian Region of the Czech Republic. It is the administrative center of Frýdek-Místek District. It comprises two formerly independent towns, Frýdek and Místek, divided by the Ostravice River...
and Frenštát pod RadhoštěmFrenštát pod RadhoštemFrenštát pod Radhoštěm is a town in the Moravian-Silesian Region of the Czech Republic.It lies under the Moravian-Silesian Beskids Range, in a region rich in history and therefore the town is an important holiday resort in both summer and winter....
. These dialects are in many aspects close to the Silesian language. - Bohemian-Moravian or South-eastern Bohemian dialects, spoken in the Bohemian-Moravian HighlandsBohemian-Moravian HighlandsThe Bohemian-Moravian Highlands is an extensive range of hills and low mountains over long, which runs in a northeasterly direction across the Czech Republic and forms the border between Bohemia and Moravia...
in western Moravia around DačiceDaciceDačice is a town in the southwest Moravia, currently belonging to the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has cca 8,000 inhabitants. It is notable as the home of the sugar cube, which was invented there in 1843 by Jakub Kryštof Rad....
, JihlavaJihlavaJihlava is a city in the Czech Republic. Jihlava is a centre of the Vysočina Region, situated on the Jihlava river on the ancient frontier between Moravia and Bohemia, and is the oldest mining town in the Czech Republic, ca. 50 years older than Kutná Hora.Among the principal buildings are the...
and Žďár nad SázavouŽdár nad SázavouŽďár nad Sázavou is a city in the Vysočina Region of the Czech Republic. It has approximately 24,000 inhabitants and is the administrative capital of the Žďár nad Sázavou District. The city is a prominent centre of tourism, as a ski resort in winter and a popular destination for cycling and...
. This is the transitional group between dialects of Bohemia and Moravia.
Some typical phonological differences between the Moravian dialects are shown below on the sentence ‘Put the flour from the mill in the cart’:
| Central Moravian: | Dé mókô ze mléna na vozék. |
| Eastern Moravian: | Daj múku ze młýna na vozík. |
| Lach: | Daj muku ze młyna na vozik. |
| Bohemian-Moravian: | Dej mouku ze mlejna na vozejk. |
| Standard Czech: | Dej mouku ze mlýna na vozík. |
In Czech the standardization abolished the old traditionally Czech dialects, but in Moravia the dialects survived through the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands
Bohemian-Moravian Highlands
The Bohemian-Moravian Highlands is an extensive range of hills and low mountains over long, which runs in a northeasterly direction across the Czech Republic and forms the border between Bohemia and Moravia...
. The Czech linguists refer, that the Moravian is not unified because of the different dialects, therefore not language, but few languages (German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
, Slovene, Swedish
Swedish language
Swedish is a North Germanic language, spoken by approximately 10 million people, predominantly in Sweden and parts of Finland, especially along its coast and on the Åland islands. It is largely mutually intelligible with Norwegian and Danish...
) with many dialects is not unified languages.
Linguistic features
The Moravian language (namely the dialects) preserved linguistic archaisms. These archaisms are examples of the South SlavicSouth Slavic languages
The South Slavic languages comprise one of three branches of the Slavic languages. There are approximately 30 million speakers, mainly in the Balkans. These are separated geographically from speakers of the other two Slavic branches by a belt of German, Hungarian and Romanian speakers...
and East Slavic languages
East Slavic languages
The East Slavic languages constitute one of three regional subgroups of Slavic languages, currently spoken in Eastern Europe. It is the group with the largest numbers of speakers, far out-numbering the Western and Southern Slavic groups. Current East Slavic languages are Belarusian, Russian,...
, but of Czech language not. The suffix of the masculine inflection in the Locative case
Locative case
Locative is a grammatical case which indicates a location. It corresponds vaguely to the English prepositions "in", "on", "at", and "by"...
Moravian: v Bystrcu (in Bystrc).
Literature
- 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.
- Šrámek, R.: Zur heutigen Situation des Tschechischen. In: Ohnheiser, I. / Kienpointner, M. / Kalb, H.: Sprachen in Europa. Sprachsituation und Sprachpolitik in europäischen Ländern. Innsbruck 1999.
- Vintr, Josef: Das Tschechische. Hauptzüge seiner Sprachstruktur in Gegenwart und Geschichte. München: Sagner 2001.