Slovakia

Summary

Official Name

Slovak Republic

International Conventions

CDE (1993), CPPDCE (2006), CSICH (2006), ECRML (2001), FCPNM (1995), ICCPR (1993), UNCRPD (2010), UNDRIP (2007)

Population

5,458,000

Principal Languages

Slovak

Literacy Rate

100% (Roser and Ortiz-Ospina 2018)

General References

Campbell and King 2011, Comrie 1987, Hancock 1990a

Language Counts

The number of established languages listed for Slovakia is 13. All are living languages. Of these, 6 are indigenous and 7 are non-indigenous. Furthermore, 3 are institutional, 7 are developing, 1 is vigorous, and 2 are in trouble. Also listed is 1 unestablished language.

Languages

Chakavian ckm: Bratislavsky region: Cunovo, Chorvatsky Grob, Devinska Nova Ves, Jarovice. Users: 3,000 in Slovakia (2021 K. Tyran). Status: 6b (Threatened). Alternate Names: Gradišćanskohrvatski jezik Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, South, Western
Czech ces: Widespread. Users: 2,585,200 in Slovakia, all users. L1 users: 35,200 in Slovakia (2013 UNSD). L2 users: 2,550,000 (European Commission 2012). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, West, Czech-Slovak
English eng: Users: 1,420,800 in Slovakia, all users. L1 users: 800 in Slovakia (2020 Joshua Project). , based on ethnicity. L2 users: 1,420,000 (European Commission 2012). Status: 4 (Educational). Alternate Names: Angličtina Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, English
French fra: Users: 114,000 in Slovakia (Beck et al 2018), L2 users. Status: 5* (Dispersed). Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Rhaetian, Oïl, French
German, Standard deu: Scattered. Users: 1,205,190 in Slovakia, all users. L1 users: 5,190 in Slovakia (2013 UNSD). L2 users: 1,200,000 (2019). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Deutsch, Nemec Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, German, Middle German, East Middle German
Hungarian hun: Banskobystricky, Bratislavsky, Kosicky, Nitriansky, and Trnavsky regions; mainly near southern border. Users: 509,000 in Slovakia (2013 UNSD). Status: 2 (Provincial). Statutory provincial language in southeast, south (1999, National Minority Language Use Act, Article 2). Alternate Names: Maďarský, Magyar Classification: Uralic
Polish pol: Scattered. Users: 3,120 in Slovakia (2013 UNSD). Status: 6b* (Threatened). Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, West, Lechitic
Romani, Carpathian rmc: Banskobystricky region: Brezno, Krupina, and Rimavská Sobota districts; Kosicky region: Krompachy area (East Slovak Romani dialect); Nitriansky region: Šaľa district; Presovsky region: Bardejov district; Trnavsky region: Senica district (West Slovak Romani dialect). Users: 123,000 in Slovakia (2013 UNSD). Total users in all countries: 157,110. Status: 5* (Developing). Alternate Names: Bashaldo, Central Romani, Hungarian-Slovak Romani, Karpacki Roma, Sárvika Romá, Ungrike Romá Autonym: Romanes Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Intermediate Divisions, Western, Romani, Northern
Romani, Vlax rmy: Scattered. Status: 5* (Developing). Alternate Names: Rom Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Intermediate Divisions, Western, Romani, Vlax
Russian rus: Users: 1,300,000 in Slovakia (Arefyev 2012), all users. L1 users: 3,180 (2013 UNSD). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, East
Rusyn rue: Presovsky region: far northeast corner. Users: 55,500 in Slovakia (2013 UNSD). Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Carpathian, Carpatho-Rusyn, Rusinskiy yazyk, Ruthenian Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, East
Slovak slk: Widespread. Users: 5,115,000 in Slovakia, all users. L1 users: 4,770,000 in Slovakia (European Commission 2012). L2 users: 345,000 (European Commission 2012). Total users in all countries: 7,251,080 (as L1: 5,206,080; as L2: 2,045,000). Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (1992, Constitution, Article 6(1)). Alternate Names: Slovakian Autonym: Slovenský Jazyk, Slovenčina Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, West, Czech-Slovak
Slovakian Sign Language svk: Scattered. Users: 15,000 (2021 EUD). About 0.3% of total population. Another estimate: 27,000 (2014 IMB). Status: 5 (Developing). Recognized language (1995, Law on the Sign Language of the Deaf 149). Alternate Names: Slovak Republic Sign Language, Slovak Sign Language, Slovnik Posunkovej Reci, Slovník Posunkovej Reči Classification: Sign language, Deaf community sign language
Ukrainian ukr: Scattered, mainly in larger towns in eastern Slovakia. Users: 5,690 in Slovakia (2013 UNSD). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, East

Languages by Status

1 (National)

Slovak

[slk] 1 (National). Statutory national language (1992, Constitution, Article 6(1)). 5,115,000 in Slovakia, all users. L1 users: 4,770,000 in Slovakia (European Commission 2012). L2 users: 345,000 (European Commission 2012). Total users in all countries: 7,251,080 (as L1: 5,206,080; as L2: 2,045,000).

2 (Provincial)

Hungarian

[hun] 2 (Provincial). Statutory provincial language in southeast, south (1999, National Minority Language Use Act, Article 2). 509,000 in Slovakia (2013 UNSD).

4 (Educational)

English

[eng] 4 (Educational). 1,420,800 in Slovakia, all users. L1 users: 800 in Slovakia (2020 Joshua Project). , based on ethnicity. L2 users: 1,420,000 (European Commission 2012).

5 (Dispersed)

Czech

[ces] 5* (Dispersed). 2,585,200 in Slovakia, all users. L1 users: 35,200 in Slovakia (2013 UNSD). L2 users: 2,550,000 (European Commission 2012).

German, Standard

[deu] 5* (Dispersed). 1,205,190 in Slovakia, all users. L1 users: 5,190 in Slovakia (2013 UNSD). L2 users: 1,200,000 (2019).

French

[fra] 5* (Dispersed). 114,000 in Slovakia (Beck et al 2018), L2 users.

Ukrainian

[ukr] 5* (Dispersed). 5,690 in Slovakia (2013 UNSD).

5 (Developing)

Romani, Carpathian

[rmc] 5* (Developing). 123,000 in Slovakia (2013 UNSD). Total users in all countries: 157,110.

Romani, Vlax

[rmy] 5* (Developing).

Slovakian Sign Language

[svk] 5 (Developing). Recognized language (1995, Law on the Sign Language of the Deaf 149). 15,000 (2021 EUD). About 0.3% of total population. Another estimate: 27,000 (2014 IMB).

6a (Vigorous)

Rusyn

[rue] 6a* (Vigorous). 55,500 in Slovakia (2013 UNSD).

6b (Threatened)

Chakavian

[ckm] 6b (Threatened). 3,000 in Slovakia (2021 K. Tyran).

Polish

[pol] 6b* (Threatened). 3,120 in Slovakia (2013 UNSD).