Montenegrin Becomes Official Language for State Broadcaster

The move on Friday came after the government approved The Grammar of the Montenegrin Language as the country’s official grammatical code last month.

Branko Baletic, a council member, told Serbian broadcaster RTS on Friday: "The decision will oblige management to implement the Montenegrin language in all programmes.

"It represents the minimum of our identity."

The broadcaster will also formulate new rules to ensure its employees use Montenegrin in their official communications.

The Montenegrin parliament passed a new Law on Education in the summer making Montenegrin the official language in educational institutions.

MPs from the ruling parties supported the law, but the opposition was strongly against it, citing a lack of educated teachers and textbooks written in Montenegrin.

The beginning of a new term in educational institutions in Montenegro has marked the start of the adoption of the new Montenegrin language.

The first edition of a book on it appeared in bookstores on September 4 and a lexicon of the Montenegrin language was published days later.

According to a recent poll, 41.6 per cent of respondents claim Serbian to be their native language and 38.2 per cent Montenegrin.