The Slovene language has long been a core part of Slovenia’s national identity, instrumental in unifying the nation during its journey to independence in 1991. However, globalization and digitalization have increasingly challenged the prominence of Slovene in public and commercial domains. This pressure has placed responsibility on the Slovenian government to safeguard the language’s role in the face of a rapidly globalizing world. Recent amendments to the Act on the Public Use of Slovene (Act) reflect this commitment to preserving and expanding Slovene’s presence in public, commercial, and digital spheres.
The Act before the Amendments
First implemented in 2004, the Act aimed to secure Slovene as the primary language in public and professional settings, thereby protecting cultural heritage and ensuring that information remains accessible to Slovenian speakers. It set specific requirements for various sectors, including government communications, education, commerce, and the media. One key provision was and remains that businesses and individuals engaged in commerce within Slovenian territory have to communicate with clients in Slovene. Additionally, product information, including features, usage conditions, and intended purpose, had to be provided in Slovene or a language easily understood by Slovenian consumers.
The digital landscape and cross-border nature of many services, particularly in the technology sector, have made enforcing Slovene language requirements challenging. For example, many international technology and infotainment providers, such as Apple, lacked Slovene-language support in their products and services. Apple, specifically, faced scrutiny for not including Slovene in its iOS operating system, highlighting a broader issue where popular devices and services often prioritized global languages like English. Recognizing these challenges, lawmakers introduced amendments to address the gaps and reinforce Slovene’s position across different sectors.
Key Changes to the Act
The updated Act introduces several significant provisions aimed at ensuring the visibility and accessibility of Slovene in the digital age. Among the most impactful changes is the requirement for technology companies to offer operating systems and graphical and voice user interfaces in Slovene. Devices sold in Slovenia must now support Slovene orthography and functionality equivalent to other languages available on the device. This change aims to create a more inclusive environment for Slovene speakers by allowing them to navigate their devices in their native language.
The Act foresees that the Slovenian government will adopt a list of categories of devices for which the above obligation shall apply. In anticipation of these changes, some companies have already adapted their products. For example, Apple added Slovene support to iOS in September 2024, a move that was widely celebrated in Slovenia and seen as a victory for linguistic inclusivity. As more companies comply, Slovene-speaking consumers will gain greater ease of access to digital platforms in their native language.
The Act also emphasizes supporting Slovene-language content creators across media, literature, and digital spaces. By promoting and prioritizing Slovene-language content, the government hopes to enrich Slovenia’s cultural offerings and increase Slovene’s visibility both locally and internationally.
Looking Forward: Slovene in a Globalized World
The amendments to the Act represent a significant step toward preserving Slovene as a language of public use in an increasingly globalized and digital environment. By enacting higher standards for public and digital accessibility, the government underscores Slovenia’s commitment to linguistic diversity and cultural heritage. The amendments have garnered support from various stakeholders, including many businesses supporting the updated Act, recognizing the importance of connecting with Slovenian consumers in their native language. While these changes mark a victory for Slovene’s public presence, challenges remain. The legislation’s scope does not extend to all digital providers equally. For instance, audiovisual content providers, including Netflix and Disney+, are governed by the country-of-origin principle in the EU, meaning they are not legally required to offer Slovene language options. This discrepancy has spurred debate within Slovenia about the need for more comprehensive policies to ensure broader language inclusivity across digital platforms. Advocates argue that as digital content becomes increasingly influential in daily life, language accessibility in these services is essential to preserving Slovene’s prominence.
Despite the Act’s progress, the journey to universal Slovene accessibility in the digital realm continues. We have yet to achieve a balance between the complexities of maintaining linguistic heritage in a globalized world, which further underscores the importance of adaptable policies that respond to evolving technological landscapes.
By Barbara Hocevar, Partner, and Lenart Kmetic, Senior Associate, Selih & Partnerji
This article was originally published in Issue 11.11 of the CEE Legal Matters Magazine. If you would like to receive a hard copy of the magazine, you can subscribe here.
