New Signs – Old Scratchworks

“The bilingual signage is another important acknowledgment of the Slovenian ethnic group in Carinthia,” said Carinthia's Governor Peter Kaiser at a press event in Pliberk/Bleiburg. “The fact that ÖBB is committed to this, even without a legal obligation, underscores peaceful coexistence and respect for cultural diversity not only in our region but throughout Austria.”

The Council of Carinthian Slovenes (Der Rat der Kärntner Slowenen/Narodni svet koroških Slovencev, NSKS) welcomed the initiative with a press release, but pointed out other areas in which the implementation of Article 7 of the 1955 Austrian State Treaty are lacking. In addition, the Council emphasised that it is not enough to have "Bahnhof Bleiburg/Pliberk“ written, but the word “Bahnhof” (station) should also be translated into Slovenian, therefore "Bahnhof Bleiburg/Kolodvor Pliberk”. The Council posed the question of whether the bilingual sign posting would be present inside the stations and it is already aware of many bus stations in bilingual municipalities which only display German language signs.

“Acts of graffiti, like the one in the municipality of Gemeinde St. Kanzian/ Škocjan where Slovenian has been spoken since time immemorial, are an attempt to undermine the improved climate in these regions. Besides such acts damage Carinthia’s global image”, the Council of Carinthian Slovenes wrote in a press release. After the violent 1972 protests against bilingual placenames in Carinthia, an adequate solution for all parties involved for decades while implementing the treaty. The 2011 Place name compromise did ease tension, however it also cemented injustice and a multitude of different regulations that make it impossible to speak of a satisfactory solution.

Note: This article gives the views of the author and does not represent the position of the European Association of Daily Newspapers in Minority and Regional Languages (MIDAS) or Eurac Research.