Serbokroatisch

Serbo-Croatian is the name historically used for the South Slavic language continuum spoken across the territory of the former Yugoslavia and across the successor states of Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro. In linguistic terms it is considered a pluricentric language built on the common Shtokavian dialect, with regional varieties that have long overlapped across borders. The four standard varieties that emerged from this continuum are Serbian, Croatian, Bosnian, and Montenegrin. They are mutually intelligible to a high degree, but each has its own standardized norms for pronunciation, vocabulary, and spelling.

The writing system associated with Serbo-Croatian is digraphic, using both Cyrillic and Latin scripts. In practice, Serbian communities commonly use Cyrillic and Latin scripts, while Croatian typically relies on the Latin alphabet. Bosnian and Montenegrin communities use both scripts, with varying preferences in different contexts and institutions. This script diversity reflects the shared linguistic heritage and the national distinctions that developed over time.

Historically, Serbo-Croatian was reinforced as a standard language during the 20th century in the Yugoslav period, drawing on both Serbian and Croatian literary traditions and, to a lesser extent, Bosnian and Montenegrin norms. In the language policy and education systems of the post-Yugoslav states, the term Serbo-Croatian has declined in official use, and the four standard languages are generally recognized as distinct. Nevertheless, the varieties retain a high degree of mutual intelligibility and share a common core of grammar and vocabulary.