Taxonomies of the Slavic World since the Enlightenment: Schematizing Perceptions of Slavic Ethnonymsin a Chart. (May 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Maxwell, Alexander
• Is Part Of: Language & history. Volume 58:Number 1(2015:May)
• Page Start: 24
• Page End: 54
• Publication Date: 2015-05
• Subjects: Slavic languages, -- classification, -- dialects, -- ethno-linguistic nationalism; Linguistics -- History -- Periodicals; 410.9
• DOI: 10.1179/1759753615Z.00000000037
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1759-7536

Abstract

Abstract : To compare how various observers have subdivided the Slavic world in the last two centuries, this article schematizes taxonomies of Slavic nations and languages into a chart. The resulting chart traces popular recognition of various Slavic ethnonyms over time. Fragmentation is the main theme: several ethnonyms have won recognition in fairly recent times. Other categories have struggled or failed to win general acceptance. While political events influence the opinion of Slavic experts, international recognition of Slavic categories depends less on statehood than administrative borders. Ethnographic and linguistic taxonomies, finally, often differ from each other.