Projects / Programmes
Slovenian language, literature and teaching of Slovenian language
January 1, 2020
- December 31, 2027
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 6.05.00 |
Humanities |
Linguistics |
|
| 6.07.00 |
Humanities |
Literary sciences |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| H350 |
Humanities |
Linguistics |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 6.02 |
Humanities |
Languages and Literature |
history of the Slovene language; language policy and planning, Slovene language in EU; dialectology; language in contact; slovene grammar and lexicology, text types, language and gender; Slovene literature, multiculturality and interculturality; didactics of language and literature, literacy
Data for the last 5 years (citations for the last 10 years) on
June 30, 2024;
A3 for period
2018-2022
| Database |
Linked records |
Citations |
Pure citations |
Average pure citations |
| WoS |
44 |
75 |
55 |
1.25 |
| Scopus |
129 |
216 |
180 |
1.4 |
Researchers (15)
Organisations (2)
Abstract
In their 2018 evaluation, the reviewer noted that the research project P6-0156 proceeds successfully and that the project should be extended, since the scope and nature of its research goals ensure its relevance and justify further intellectual investment. That evaluation is binding. Therefore, we have started planning research work on the role that the Slovene language plays in the literature and education in Danube’s intercultural space. A study of national significance will respect and promote the further linguistic diversity, cultural and literary heritage, as well as greater interaction among scientists and educators the areas along the Danube. The bulk of the project is continuous collection and analysis of relevant content by researchers from the Faculty of Arts and Faculty of Education.
The focus of our interest continues to be complementary integration of synchronic and diachronic perspectives on the language and further expansion of our understanding of linguistics, literature, and education. We are mostly dealing with the Slovene language literature with regard to (a) mono-, bi-, and multilingualism, (b) mono-, bi-, and multiculturalism in literature, (c) the meaning of a national language in global literature, and (d) teaching Slovene with the emphasis on interdisciplinary cooperation.
Objectives of language research:
- to analyze the role and status of the Slovene language in the Danube region in comparison to the EU language policy guidelines
- present historic and developmental dynamics of the Slovene language with regard to the central- and eastern Slovene language space as well as the unification of Slovene literary norms
- take a more precise measurement of the dialectal makeup of the Danube region
- put forward a cognitive approach to synchronous research of word formation, lexicology, phraseology, and the relationship between the norm and actual usage of the (literary) language.
- carry out a critically discursive, multimodal text analysis that takes into account the social, cultural, and genre context of the text, so as to show lexicology as a field of interdisciplinary research of written (language statistics and pragmatics) and spoken texts.
The literary-historical research will:
- focus on the phenomena of bi- and inter/multiculturalism (in light of the cultural memory theory, imagology, and the polysystemic theory) in the Slovene literature from ceremonial texts to 21st century literature, also taking into account short stories, children’s literature, and female writers.
Research in the area of teaching Slovene language and literature will:
- touch upon the process of mastering Slovene as a second and a foreign language among adolescents
- directed at the development of literacy as a key competence of lifelong learning and
- show how to solve the problem of shifting the information sources and instruction materials into the realm of e-learning.
- show that the generation of the so-called digital nomads learns notably less successfully from screens than from printed sources.
Significance for science
The research results will be applied to the spheres of:
- language policy and language planning: (a) suggestions on how to improve and update the Act on public usage of the Slovene language and preparation of starting points for a new Resolution on the Slovene language, (b) ways to improve the use of Slovene among the general public, (c) positive effects on the language domain, and (d) raise awareness on the importance of the Slovene language in the Slovene education system (curricular use of Slovene as language of instruction in primary, middle schools and university education).
- language history (diachrony): (a) preparation of guidelines for the field of lexicography (historic dictionaries) and grammar (historic grammar references), (b) publication of some of the oldest Slovene texts of critical scientific importance - we are planning to translate and print of Slomšek’s Inbegriff der slowenischen Sprache für Ingeborne Grammar written in German, (c) understanding of the binary development of Slovene literary language, (d) a unified Slovene literary norm (e.g. relationship between the Prekmurje literary language of the 18th-19th centuries and the modern dialectal creativity) and (e) historic and linguistic relationships among the languages of the Danube region
- dialectology: attainment of a higher degree of understanding of dialectology and the new scientific findings in this area.
- literary language (synchrony): (a) shift of lexicological and word formation research from structural to cognitive paradigms as well as the use of language technologies (such as the online portal Fran); (b) national language studies designed according to modern standards that could have interest for the global scientific community; (c) production of text collections based on requirements that are universally applied to all spheres of communication; (d) drawing attention of critical science to the relationship between discourse and other types of social elements (politics of power, ideology, social institutions, etc); (e) understanding of the workings of discourse in social processes, structures, and changes (interdisciplinary approach); (f) literacy as a core competence for lifelong learning; (g) mastering of the Slovene as a second and foreign language by adolescents (with intercultural context in mind).
- literary sciences: (a) promotion of intercultural, interlin-gual, and inter-literary contacts in literary sciences brings novel and lasting developments to the Slovene literary science, which is based on the notion of national literature; bi- and multicultural authors further expand the system of Slovene literature; (b) earlier attempts to interpret Slovene literature were mostly unambiguous and the appreciation of the role of Slovene authors who write in countries other than their own (immigrants, emigrants and members of various minorities) has so far fallen short of what it should be; (c) research of ceremonial texts and other examples of narration at the very early stages in the development of the Slovene language, which has formed the foundation of the modern narrative texts -- with their micro- and macrostructures studied properly, ancient texts reveal narrative patterns that can be easily traced to modern texts, which is very important for the understanding of the Slovene narrative tradition; (d) values in children’s literature (family, friendship, tolerance) and research on the development of family literacy as well as reading skills among adolescents - proliferation of literacy and reading skills (i.e. making these skills economically and intellectually accessible) is a necessary condition for the development of society as a whole.
- didactics: (a) research on the development of family literacy and reading skills of children and adolescents; (b) literacy as a core competence for lifelong learning; (c) mastering of Slovene as a second and a foreign language by adolescents (with regard to intercultural context); (d) search for answ
Significance for the country
One of the key goals of this research project is to make its findings as public as possible. The results will be presented to students in Slovenia and abroad, experts in the field and the general public, during scientific and professional conferences and in the media. We will use the results to improve the education system in general by adjusting teaching methods, textbooks and study plans accordingly. This should help increase awareness of the importance of preservation of the Slovene linguistic and cultural heritage. Research on the Slovene language, literature (and the theories behind teaching these subjects), and culture will strengthen the country’s standing, enable broader access to foreign knowledge and bolster the pool of human resources.
To ensure a wider socioeconomic impact, it is imperative that the findings of our research be presented (1) on the local level to local partners, participants of other projects, within the organization, (2) regional and (3) national levels. We will be happy to provide all our findings to those responsible for the development of vocational and professional education, such as other educational institutions, school centers, government departments, associations, local councils, etc.; on the European scale, gained knowledge can benefit those looking for good practices to apply in their projects, various task groups, and projects, such as Erasmus+ by means of student exchange, cooperation at international conferences, seminars, etc.
Language research:
- Slovene language policy will be compared to the language policy principles of the EU through demonstrating the role and meaning that multilingualism, multiculturalism, and the Slovene language in its great many capacities play in the Slovene cultural domain. Promotion of positive Slovene language policies and legislation, especially in relation to minorities, which already rank quite high among EU members.
- Important written Slovene documents will be analyzed, along with the language elements that lie therein and that can be considered a part of cultural heritage, e.g. set expressions that relate socio cultural connotations.
- Creation of lexicographic manuals (Slovene-Macedonian and Macedonian-Slovene) that will help preserve and nourish Slovene-Macedonian relationships and enrich the field of Slovene lexicography.
- National lexical research plays a vital role in the formation of the Slovene national culture. Encoded within the language are great many aspects of people’s lives: social relationships, technological progress, conditions of various social groups, and ties to nature, just to name a few. To perform lexical research is akin to uncovering open or hidden attitudes that exist within a society towards the aspects mentioned above. In other words, a deeper lexical analysis allows us to look into the mirror of the society that we live in.
- Research into text linguistics will allow to fill the gaps that exist in the understanding of texts in general and here in Slovenia in particular, since, due to the differences in the ways in which different language and social groups operate, it’s not enough to just carry discoveries made abroad over to the Slovene language domain. Rather, it requires scrupulous collaborative research, also involving people who have little to do with Slovene studies or linguistics.
- A critical discourse analysis is encouraged by various social problems and requires a better understanding of interdiscursive relations, public opinion, power, society and culture. It offers a starting point in the understanding of everyday manifestations of social problems in communication and interaction as well as realization of macrosociological patterns that characterize our society and culture. Understanding the social function of discourse, made possible through critical discourse analysis, encourages positive social change
Literary and historical research:
- Research into the intercultural phenomena within Slovene literatu
