In Slovenia, bilingualism at an institutional level is formally guaranteed in two ethnically mixed territories: the Slovene-Hungarian area of Prekmurje and the Slovene-Italian area of Slovene Istria. Linguistic diversity is formally respected in these areas and financial resources for its implementation are ensured by the Constitution. The provisions on the equal use of languages in these areas are contained in the laws and regulations defining the functioning of the local administration, as well as of the state and judicial authorities, and also in provisions on external bilingualism. In public institutions in these areas where an employed individual comes into contact with the public the use of the two languages – Slovene and Italian, or Slovene and Hungarian – may bring a financial incentive. Linguistic diversity can thus be said to have a direct economic value and provides an advantage in the labour market. The authors consider how Slovenian scholars have looked at the connection between language and economy in Slovenia, as well as summarising wider research in this area. They then briefly present some of their research findings relating to the economic value of bilingualism, as well as attitudes towards it, in two Slovenian border areas.
COBISS.SI-ID: 13733709