Volume 41 of the Journal of Croatian Studies

The Croatian Academy of America issued volume 41 of its annual interdisciplinary review, the Journal of Croatian Studies.

The 220-page thematic issue deals with the language identity of the Croats and includes several contributions from scholars in Croatia.

The opening piece by well-known linguistic and long-standing editor of Jezik, Stjepan Babić, concisely reviews the historical development of the Croatian and Serbian literary languages, showing why the two languages are close, but distinct.

The contributions by Benedikta Zelić-Bučan and Ivan Ostojić examine in detail the extent to which Croats of different socio-economic, cultural, educational and religious backgrounds designated their language by its national name from the 9th through to the 20th century. The authors cite examples from diverse texts and show that the terms Slavic (slovinski), Illyrian (ilirski), Dalmatian (dalmatinski), Bosnian (bosanski), Slavonian (slavonski) and language of Dubrovnik (dubrovački), were used as synonyms for the Croatian language.

Marko Babić of the Miroslav Krleža Lexicographic Institute discusses the changes to the name of the language spoken in Bosnia and Herzegovina during the first decade of Austro-Hungarian rule (1878-1888). Initially decreed Croatian (hrvatski), the authorities later changed it to the nondescript Land’s Language (zemaljski jezik/German Landessprache) and finally to Bosnian (bosanski).

The turbulent 20th century is covered by two pieces. Vinko Grubišić reviews the naming and renaming of the Croatian language, focusing on the political motivations and historical circumstances influencing these changes. Attention is also devoted to the successor states to former Yugoslavia. Stan Granic gathers together in English translation or English original fifteen pronouncements issued by individuals, cultural and educational organizations, and academic institutions both in Croatia and abroad, related to the Croatian language.

In the final piece, Vinko Grubišić briefly assesses some twenty Croatian language advisory books published primarily during the last two decades of the 20th century.

The issue also includes reports on the 46th Annual General Assembly, the reminiscences of the Academy’s longest serving President, Maria K. Tuškan, other activities and obituaries.

The Journal of Croatian Studies is the only English language scholarly periodical dedicated entirely to Croatian history and culture. 

The Croatian Academy of America was established in 1953 and has published the Journal of Croatian Studies since 1960.  Managing editors of the Journal are Karlo Mirth and Jerome Jareb.

Single issues of the Journal may be ordered at a price of US $20 for individuals and US $30 for institutions.

To order a copy of the Journal contact:

                        The Croatian Academy of America, Inc.

P.O. Box 1767, Grand Central Station

New York, NY 10163-1767

U.S.A.

Fax (516) 935-0019; e-mail croatacad@aol.com

Web site: http://www.croatianacademy.org/

Articles appearing in the Journal are indexed by ABC-CLIO Historical Abstracts, MLA International Bibliography of the Modern Languages Association and Public Affairs Information Service.

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