An 'official script' is a
script that is specifically designated to be official in the
constitutions or other applicable
laws of
countries,
states, and other territories.
Akin to an
official language, an official script is much rarer. It is used primarily where an official language is in practice written with two or more scripts. As, in these languages, use of script often has
cultural or
political connotations, proclamation of an official script is sometimes criticised as having a goal of influencing culture or politics or both. Desired effects also may include easing
education,
communication and some other aspects of life.
Some countries which have an official script are:
★
Azerbaijan -
Latin-based
Azeri alphabet
★
★
Nagorno-Karabakh -
Armenian alphabet
★ In
Bosnia and Herzegovina:
★
★
Republika Srpska -
Cyrillic alphabet
★
Croatia -
Latin alphabet
★
Georgia -
Georgian alphabet
★
★ Separatist government of
Abkhazia -
Cyrillic-based
Abkhaz alphabet
★
★ Separatist government of
South Ossetia -
Cyrillic alphabet
★
Kazakhstan -
Cyrillic alphabet
★
Moldova -
Latin alphabet
★
★ Separatist government of
Transnistria -
Cyrillic alphabet
★
Montenegro -
Cyrillic alphabet and
Latin alphabet [1]
★
Russian Federation -
Cyrillic alphabet
★
Serbia -
Cyrillic alphabet [2]
★
Turkey -
Latin-based
Turkish alphabet
In the Russian Federation, the designation of the Cyrillic alphabet as an official script (2001) has the consequence that the official languages of national
Republics of Russia have to be written in the Cyrillic alphabet in all official institutions and education. The passing of the law was met with particular resistance and criticism in the Republic of
Tatarstan, as it replaced the Turkish Latin alphabet which the local government tried to promote in education after the dissolution of USSR.
In
Serbia, because either the Cyrillic or the Latin script may be used for the Serbian language, but only the Cyrillic script is official, some groups argue that this amounts to a discriminatory legal situation.
See also
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Official language
★
Spelling reform
References
1. http://www.vlada.cg.yu/biblioteka/1118659920.doc
2. http://www.b92.net/eng/news/politics-article.php?yyyy=2006&mm=10&dd=01&nav_category=94&nav_id=37065