Cluster Rooms: Bosnian – (Is it) a language for everyone?

On the current language situation in Styrian compulsory schools and in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

On 19 May 2025, as part of the series ‘Multilingualism in Crisis Zones’, a lecture and workshop were held featuring the renowned Bosnian author Nenad Veličković.

Nenad Veličković teaches literature at the University of Sarajevo and works as a journalist and editor in the Bosnian capital. Veličković made his international breakthrough as a writer in 1997 with his debut novel *Konačari* (*Lodgers, Night Guests*). This was followed by numerous other works, which have been translated into various languages and which, amongst other things, take a critical look at the conflicts in the former Yugoslavia. Nenad Veličković works at the intersection of educational, literary and journalistic endeavours and also addresses the issue of ethnic and linguistic segregation in schools and other institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

During his lecture in Graz, which attracted a large audience, Veličković gave the audience an understanding of the linguistic situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina from various perspectives and provided insights into the role of language in processes of ideologisation. 

The event was introduced by Ivana Bulić from the Institute of Slavic Studies at the University of Graz, who provided insights into the current linguistic situation regarding first-language teaching in Bosnian, Croatian and Serbian at compulsory schools in Styria and the related research study. 

During the concluding discussion session, questions regarding the role of language and the associated processes of segregation in Bosnia and Herzegovina were addressed and discussed animatedly.

The event was organised as a collaboration between the Cluster on Spaces of Multilingualism, Migration and Cultural Transformation, the Institute of Slavic Studies and the Institute of Theoretical and Applied Translation Studies at the University of Graz.