"DO YOU SPEAK ‘NASHINSKI’?" – ON THE USAGE OF GORANI IDIOM IN BELGRADE Cover Image

"A ZBORIŠ NAŠINSKI?" – O UPOTREBI GORANSKOG GOVORA U BEOGRADU
"DO YOU SPEAK ‘NASHINSKI’?" – ON THE USAGE OF GORANI IDIOM IN BELGRADE

Author(s): Jadranka Đorđević-Crnobrnja
Subject(s): Language studies, Sociolinguistics, Theory of Communication, Identity of Collectives
Published by: Институт за етнологију и антропологију
Keywords: Gorani; Gorani idiom/‘Nashinski’; private and public sphere of communication; mimicry of Gorani idiom Belgrade;

Summary/Abstract: The research the results of which are partially presented in this paper is based on the notion that the Gorani idiom is one of the segments of Gorani culture. In other words, I perceive it as an identity question which is only one part of the larger ethnic issue. In that regard, I do not attribute more significance to the Gorani idiom than to other symbols/markers of this community, but in this paper it is in the focus of observation. By analysing language (idiom) and its communicational function it is possible to observe, trace, and explain different processes regarding ascription and description of the ethnic identity of individuals and community. Following this idea, I am trying to analyse and explain communicational function of the Gorani idiom in the context of rights of its usage and possibilities of realization of these rights in one multi-ethnic environment in which Serbian is the official and major language. The analysis of the communicational function of the Gorani idiom seemed very inspiring for research to me due to the fact that the Gorani are educated in Serbian schools in Serbian – which is the mother tongue within the educational curriculum, and besides this they use Serbian as a main language in the public sphere. In the environment (Belgrade) where the research was conducted Serbian is used in parallel with several dialects; members of different confessions and ethnic communities, cultures and subcultures live there – which overall implies various questions regarding the usage of the Gorani idiom and its symbolic role in the process of creation of Gorani`s ethnic identity. The analysis of the usage of ‘Nashinski’ among Gorani who live in Belgrade has led me to the conclusion that they use the Gorani idiom and Serbian in everyday communication, therewith Gorani idiom is present only within private sphere of communication (among family and relatives). Apart from this it is evident the appearance of mimicry of Gorani idiom and the attempt of increasing language competences in Serbian which might affect the decrease and an intensity of the usage of Gorani idiom within the private sphere of communication. Therefore, there is concern that the decreased scope and intensity of the usage of the Gorani idiom might negatively affect its reproduction and its existence. The state and its public policy do not undertake any attempts in order to provide organised and systematic conduction of care for Gorani idiom and Gorani ethnic community.

  • Issue Year: 14/2014
  • Issue No: 2
  • Page Range: 101-116
  • Page Count: 16
  • Language: Serbian