Language Research

The use of Slovak as a State Language is required by the Constitution. The current Law on Minority Languages was adopted on July 10, 1999. Up until then, the controversial 1995 Language Law regulated the use of Slovak. It mandated the use of the Slovak language for official purposes, in commerce, in the administration of religious bodies and in communications between patients and physicians. The use of minority languages was thus marginalized even in situations that most people would consider as private.

The law attracted international criticism, both by the High Commissioner for National Minorities (HCNM) and the EU, but this was dismissed by the then Government. The new Government requested a ruling of the Constitutional Court, and in October 1998 the Law was declared unconstitutional. Despite that the action required the new Government to postpone local elections, a new, more acceptable Language Law was drafted straightaway.

The new Law was adopted on July 10, 1999. It allows, and to some extent promotes, the use of minority languages in public administration at a local level, where at least 20% of the community belong to a minority group. The new law was commented upon favorably in EU quarters.

It is an improvement over the previously existing situation; however, the threshold of 20% is still very high. As long as the debate in Slovakia is kept within the democratic principle of protection for all its citizens' rights, disregarding ethnic identity, then this can be seen as a promising first step.

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