유고슬라비아주의와 언어문제

The term Yugoslavism could be interpreted in various ways depending on historical periods, its users, and other related factors. If we take it as an ideology and at the same time a movement for the creation of an unified nation-state among the South Slavic people in the Balkans, its origin can be traced from Illyriansim or Illyrian Movement of the mid-19th century. Due to the existing sharp ethnic, religious cleavage among the concerned South Slavic peoples, the proponents of Yugoslavism constantly sticked to the language unification on the basis of the languages of Serbians, Croatians, Moslems and other related populations because, among others, the linguistic similarity was considered as the only and most powerful unifying force for the creation of the homogeneous national culture. In this connection this article makes an analytical overview of the significance historical events related to the language unification projects carried out under the spirit of Yugoslavism from the Illyrianism period till the creation of the first unified state among the South Slavic people, i. e. 'the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovens'.