Šokac language
Encyclopedia
The Šokac language was a language listed in Austro-Hungarian censuses. Population censuses performed in Austria-Hungary
recorded the native language of the citizens, whereby the Šokac language was declared as native language to one part of the population, presumably members of the Šokci ethnic group. According to the 1910 census, the speakers of Šokac were recorded in the Bačka-Bodrog county
, in the municipalities of Apatin
, Baja
, Odžaci
, and Palanka
. Although, not very different from Croatian
or Serbian
Štokavian speech, Šokac could be identified along with Slavonian sub-dialect of the old-Štokavian speech. Today, most of the members of the Šokci community declare themselves as Croats
in the census, and their language as Croatian or Serbian.
, Bačka
, Baranja
, Syrmia
, in eastern Croatia
, northern Serbia
(Vojvodina
), and Hungary
, as well as in northern Bosnia
. The Slavonian sub-dialect has mixed Ikavian and Ekavian pronunciation. Ikavian is predominant in the Posavina
, Baranja, Bačka, and in the Slavonian sub-dialect enclave of Derventa
and Orašje, while Ekavian is predominant in Podravina
. There are also enclaves of one of both variants in the main territory of the other and vice-versa, as well as mixed Ekavian-Ikavian and Jekavian-Ikavian areas. In some villages in Hungary
, the original yat is preserved. Local variants can widely differ with the degree of neo-Štokavian accent influences.
The oldest variant of this dialect persisted in some settlements of Sava river valley between Gradiška and Brod: chiefly in Davor, Orubica
, Siče, and Magić-Mala. There the terminal l e.g. in the verb nosil has been retained (instead of modern nosio = carried), and pepel instead of new pepeo (ash). The old group "šć" is conserved instead of modern št e.g. šćap (not modern štap = stick), and the archaic accents are often terminal or penultimate, rarely initial in polysyllabic words. In some villages in the Podravina čr instead of the usual cr is preserved, for example in old črn instead of new crn (black). All these features are usual in Chakavian and Kajkavian, but rare old-Štokavian dialects also have these features.
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary , more formally known as the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen, was a constitutional monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in...
recorded the native language of the citizens, whereby the Šokac language was declared as native language to one part of the population, presumably members of the Šokci ethnic group. According to the 1910 census, the speakers of Šokac were recorded in the Bačka-Bodrog county
Bács-Bodrog
Bács-Bodrog County was the administrative county of the Habsburg Kingdom of Hungary from 18th century to 1918. Its territory is currently in northern Serbia and southern Hungary. The capital of the county was Zombor .-Name:The county was named after two older counties: Bács and Bodrog...
, in the municipalities of Apatin
Apatin
Apatin is a town and municipality in the Vojvodina administrative region of Serbia, located in the West Bačka District, at . The town of Apatin is the administrative, economic, cultural, educational and tourist centre of the municipality of Apatin...
, Baja
Baja, Hungary
Baja is a city in , southern Hungary. It is the second largest city in the county, after the county seat at Kecskemét, and is home to around 37,000 people....
, Odžaci
Odžaci
Odžaci is a town and municipality in the West Bačka District of Serbia. It is situated in the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina. The town of Odžaci has a population of 9,832 people, while the population of the municipality of Odžaci is 35,474 people .-Name:The name Odžaci means "chimneys" in Serbian...
, and Palanka
Backa Palanka
Bačka Palanka is a city and municipality located in Serbia, on left bank of the Danube, at 45.15° North, 19.24° East...
. Although, not very different from Croatian
Croatian language
Croatian is the collective name for the standard language and dialects spoken by Croats, principally in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Serbian province of Vojvodina and other neighbouring countries...
or Serbian
Serbian language
Serbian is a form of Serbo-Croatian, a South Slavic language, spoken by Serbs in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia and neighbouring countries....
Štokavian speech, Šokac could be identified along with Slavonian sub-dialect of the old-Štokavian speech. Today, most of the members of the Šokci community declare themselves as Croats
Croats
Croats are a South Slavic ethnic group mostly living in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and nearby countries. There are around 4 million Croats living inside Croatia and up to 4.5 million throughout the rest of the world. Responding to political, social and economic pressure, many Croats have...
in the census, and their language as Croatian or Serbian.
Distribution
The Slavonian sub-dialect is spoken by Šokci who live in some parts of SlavoniaSlavonia
Slavonia is a geographical and historical region in eastern Croatia...
, Bačka
Backa
Bačka is a geographical area within the Pannonian plain bordered by the river Danube to the west and south, and by the river Tisza to the east of which confluence is located near Titel...
, Baranja
Baranya (region)
Baranya or Baranja is a geographical region between the Danube and the Drava rivers. Its territory is divided between Hungary and Croatia...
, Syrmia
Syrmia
Syrmia is a fertile region of the Pannonian Plain in Europe, between the Danube and Sava rivers. It is divided between Serbia in the east and Croatia in the west....
, in eastern Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
, northern Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
(Vojvodina
Vojvodina
Vojvodina, officially called Autonomous Province of Vojvodina is an autonomous province of Serbia. Its capital and largest city is Novi Sad...
), and Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
, as well as in northern Bosnia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
. The Slavonian sub-dialect has mixed Ikavian and Ekavian pronunciation. Ikavian is predominant in the Posavina
Posavina
Posavina is a Slavic name for the region of the Sava river basin in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Serbia that is adjacent or near the Sava river itself.-History:...
, Baranja, Bačka, and in the Slavonian sub-dialect enclave of Derventa
Derventa
Derventa is the name of a town and municipality of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the northern part of Republika Srpska just northwest of the town of Doboj, in the Posavina region...
and Orašje, while Ekavian is predominant in Podravina
Podravina
Podravina or Podravje are Slavic names for the Drava river basin in Croatia and Slovenia.-History:...
. There are also enclaves of one of both variants in the main territory of the other and vice-versa, as well as mixed Ekavian-Ikavian and Jekavian-Ikavian areas. In some villages in Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
, the original yat is preserved. Local variants can widely differ with the degree of neo-Štokavian accent influences.
The oldest variant of this dialect persisted in some settlements of Sava river valley between Gradiška and Brod: chiefly in Davor, Orubica
Orubica
Orubica is a village in the municipality of Slavonski Brod, Croatia.-References:...
, Siče, and Magić-Mala. There the terminal l e.g. in the verb nosil has been retained (instead of modern nosio = carried), and pepel instead of new pepeo (ash). The old group "šć" is conserved instead of modern št e.g. šćap (not modern štap = stick), and the archaic accents are often terminal or penultimate, rarely initial in polysyllabic words. In some villages in the Podravina čr instead of the usual cr is preserved, for example in old črn instead of new crn (black). All these features are usual in Chakavian and Kajkavian, but rare old-Štokavian dialects also have these features.