Minority languages of Kosovo

Although the Albanian language is the dominant language in Kosovo, equal status is given to Serbian and special status is given to other minority languages.[1] The legislative framework for the protection and promotion of minority languages follows the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities and the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, even though the country is not a member of the Council of Europe.[1] However, a lack of political will to enforce the law by Kosovo's institutions and the continued separation of Serb and Albanian communities impede the actual enjoyment of minority language rights.[1][2]

Languages of Kosovo
Linguistic structure of Kosovo, according to the 2011 census.
OfficialAlbanian
Serbian
MinorityBosnian
Gorani
Romani
Turkish
SignedYugoslav Sign Language
Keyboard layout

The Assembly of Kosovo adopted the Law on the Use of Languages in 2006, which committed Kosovo's institutions to ensuring the equal use of Albanian and Serbian as the official languages in Kosovo.[2] Other languages can also gain recognition at municipal level as official languages if the linguistic community represents at least 5% of the total population within the municipality.[2] Additionally, the Law on the Use of Languages gives Turkish the status of an official language in the municipality of Prizren, irrespective of the size of the Turkish community living there.[2] Although both Albanian and Serbian are official languages, municipal civil servants are only required to speak one of them in a professional setting and, according to Language Commissioner of Kosovo Slaviša Mladenović statement from 2015, no organizations have all of their documents in both languages.[3]

References
  1. "Assessing Minority Language Rights in Kosovo" (PDF). Sapientia University. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  2. "Municipal language compliance in Kosovo, June 2014" (PDF). Council of Europe. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  3. "Kosovo Language Commissioner lauds trainings". European Centre for Minority Issues. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
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