Europe did not lose its Slavic languages. Slavic languages are still very much present in Europe today. The assumption that Slavonic is the only Slavic language left is incorrect.
Slavic languages belong to the Indo-European language family and are spoken by millions of people across Europe. They are divided into three main branches: East Slavic, West Slavic, and South Slavic. Some of the most widely spoken Slavic languages include:
- Russian (East Slavic) — Spoken in Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, and other former Soviet states.
- Polish (West Slavic) — Spoken in Poland and Polish communities around the world.
- Czech (West Slavic) — Spoken in the Czech Republic and by Czech communities elsewhere.
- Slovak (West Slavic) — Spoken in Slovakia and by Slovak communities abroad.
- Ukrainian (East Slavic) — Spoken in Ukraine and Ukrainian communities in other countries.
- Bulgarian (South Slavic) — Spoken in Bulgaria and by Bulgarian communities elsewhere.
- Serbian (South Slavic) — Spoken in Serbia, Montenegro, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, among others.
- Croatian (South Slavic) — Spoken primarily in Croatia and by Croatian communities elsewhere.
- Slovene (South Slavic) — Spoken in Slovenia and by Slovene communities in neighbouring countries.
Additionally, there are other Slavic languages, dialects, and variants spoken in different regions across Europe.
Slavonic, or Old Church Slavonic, is an ancient liturgical language used in religious texts and manuscripts. It is not a spoken language in the same way that the modern Slavic languages are. While Slavonic played an important role in the history of Slavic languages and their development, it is not the only Slavic language left.
In conclusion, Slavic languages are still vibrant and widely spoken across Europe. They have not been lost, and there is a rich diversity of Slavic languages that continue to be used in various countries and communities.
