Notes on a New Dialectology of Montenegrin

Abstract

The paper presents some observations on the first post-Yugoslav handbook of dialectology focusing on Montenegrin (Čirgić 2017), which sets criteria for identifying the diacritic features of Montenegrin Štokavian. In contrast to Yugoslav-era treatments of the Štokavian dialect (e.g. Ivić 1958, Peco 1985), the new handbook individuates Montenegrin and presents it as an organic whole, rather than examining its relationship to the broader South Slavic dialectological context. The task is challenging, given that there are two distinct dialect areas of Montenegrin. The trend towards describing former-Yugoslav dialect areas in alignment with the new state formations has been noted for Lisac’s handbook (Lisac 2003; Greenberg 2004). Greenberg, Marc L. 2004. Review of Hrvatska dijalektologija 1. Hrvatski dijalekti i govori štokavskog narječja i hrvatski govori torlačkog narječja, by Josip Lisac. Slavic and East European Journal 48.709–11. Lisac, Josip. 2003. Hrvatska dijalektogija 1. Hrvatski dijalekti i govori štokavskog narječja i hrvatski govori torlačkog narječja. Zagreb: Golden marketing, Tehnička knjiga.