The Role of Slovenian Language in Legal Texts of Town and Market-Town Autonomy until the Spring of Nations of 1848

Authors

  • Boris Golec Milko Kos Historical Institute Scientific Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4335/10.2.171-186

Abstract

Up to the 19th century, very little was written in Slovenian language; in the official and business life, the written Slovenian was an exception. This contribution discusses the role of Slovenian language in legal texts of towns and market-towns, namely those few Slovenian environments that through centuries had local self-government with its own elected representatives and judicial administration. Chronologically the contribution is limited to the period up to the Spring of Nations of 1848, after which the conditions for the public use of Slovenian language changed significantly. From the mid-16th century there are only a few dozen known Slovenian official records regarding undertakings of town and market-town autonomies. Among them, there are only a handful of stand-alone documents; and by far the most official oath forms. It is no coincidence that the records from towns and markets emphasizing the Slovenian linguistic image of the population have been preserved, since the bulk of these texts was created in these environments simply because there was a need for them. The vocabulary used is a faithful reflection of the actual terms used in administrative and legal terminology, often adapted German words, and loanwords. The first imperative of the writers of Slovenian official oath texts was their understandability, as they were mainly intended for oral use and wide audiences. Keywords: town autonomy • market-town autonomy • legal texts • Slovenian language • the official language of official functioning • municipality

Published

2012-04-26

Issue

Section

Article