Which language?

[Nolan]

I want to study one of the South Slavic languages and at this point I'm torn between Serbian and Croatian.

Which one should I pick and why?

[RedAnarchist]

Aren't they supposed to be virtually the same language?

[Joe_Germinal]

Aren't they supposed to be virtually the same language?

Indeed so. Serbo-Croatian was almost universally acknowledged as the language of the Southern Slavs until the 1990s when NATO and ultra-nationalists elements put forward the myth that Serbian and Croatian were different languages all the better to facilitate the imperialist dismantling of Yugoslavia.

[Raúl Duke]

Learn the old Serbo-Croat...
as it was thought in yugoslavia

[Revy]

Aren't they supposed to be virtually the same language?

Yeah...they're dialects that are called languages for political reasons. The language is often called Serbo-Croatian.

[Nolan]

So do they have different alphabets now?

[RedAnarchist]

They both use the Cyrillic alphabet.

[The Red Next Door]

why not learn both?

[Panda Tse Tung]

Bosnians can talk to Serbs with ease, just learn one of those languages and you can communicate with anyone in the region. Though if your planning to visit the region try to pick the least controversial one.

[Bandito]

They both use the Cyrillic alphabet.

Nope, Croatians use only Latin alphabet, while Serbs use both Latin and Cyrillic. Macedonians use only Cyrillic, but 99% of them know Latin alphabet. Montenegrins use both. Bosnians use both. Slovenians use just Latin.

But it is the same language with different dialects, as comrades pointed out.
Serbs, Bosnians, Croats, Montenegrins use the same language. Macedonian is something in the middle between Serbo-Croatian and Bulgarian, but pretty understandable for all ex-Yu people. Even with that, it CAN be considered as a different language, but not necerassilly. Slovenian is a different Slavic language, no doubt, but it is also quite understandable to all of us.

The word "Serbo-Croatian" is used as a political name for a same language spoken into six different countries. When the war machinery was turned off, each of them started projects of creating a patriotic figure by creating new words and trying to state that these languages are not the same. Utter bullshit.
We have a West Balkans forum where we all speak one language.

@Commandante135

I studied linguistics in Serbian, so if you need any assistance, feel free to ask.

And,

Bosnians can talk to Serbs with ease, just learn one of those languages and you can communicate with anyone in the region. Though if your planning to visit the region try to pick the least controversial one.
Unfortunately, almost everyone fought everyone in this sad historical event.

[Panda Tse Tung]

Unfortunately, almost everyone fought everyone in this sad historical event.

Well i can imagine Serbian not being the best choice when speaking with Bosnians or Croats for example.

[Bandito]

I don't think foreigners who learn the language can be taught the subtle differences in that short notice.
Whatever you speak, unless you are fluent, you're doing it right.

And people will buy you lots of brandy, because, who the hell is learning Serbo-Croatian in the western world?:)

[Bilan]

Brandy you say?
I like the sound of that.

...То је добро.

[Bandito]

I doubt you can use Google translate in a conversation though. ;)

[Bilan]

He's good. :lol:

[Panda Tse Tung]

And people will buy you lots of brandy, because, who the hell is learning Serbo-Croatian in the western world?I learned some from a Bosnian colleague, mostly cursing, counting and basic words though :p.
I cant type it though...

Does it count though? :p will i get free alcohol now? :phttp://www.revleft.com/vb/../revleft/smilies/001_smile.gif

[Bandito]

As a matter of fact, yes.
All Ex-Yugoslavians like to think that we invented cursing and do it better than everyone else on the whole wide world.
Just put on a big smile, say the curse words you know and expect some booze in your direction.

Unless you come across some hard core nationalist alcoholic who thinks that every foreigner works for NATO and he/she is the reason why they bombed us. Than don't curse.

[RedAnarchist]

Nope, Croatians use only Latin alphabet, while Serbs use both Latin and Cyrillic. Macedonians use only Cyrillic, but 99% of them know Latin alphabet. Montenegrins use both. Bosnians use both. Slovenians use just Latin

OK, thanks for the correction :).