Changes

=Editor's Note=

=Editor's Note=

'''Duke Branimir''' from the 880s, spoke old Slavic Chakavian and was from the Dalmatian hinterland. Mr Branimir is, I believe the first Croatian ''or'' the first Southern Slav to describe himself as a Croatian (recorded as such and based on the current records that we have). In my opinion his tribe, who were the old Slavic Chakavian speakers, are the first Croatians (Hrvati <ref>It is believed that Hrvat in medieval times was pronounced "'''Harvat or Hrovat'''". It was translated to Latin: Chroatorum and then simplified to Croatorum.</ref>).  

'''Duke Branimir''' from the 880s, spoke old Slavic Chakavian and was from the Dalmatian hinterland. Mr Branimir is, I believe the first Croatian ''or'' the first Southern Slav to describe himself as a Croatian (recorded as such and based on the current records that we have). In my opinion his tribe, who were the old Slavic Chakavian speakers, are the first Croatians (''Harvat'', modern Hrvati <ref>It is believed that Hrvat in medieval times was pronounced "'''Harvat or Hrovat'''". It was translated to Latin: Chroatorum and then simplified to Croatorum.</ref>). We can safely assume that Branimir's tribe goes back a few generations, especially since they had their own language i.e. Old Chakavian Croatia.  

The early medieval Western Balkans must have had multiple small Slavic ethnic tribes. In some cases the newly arrived Slavs lived amongst the population that was there prior to their arrival. It is my opinion that for whatever reason it appears that their history has not been recorded accurately ''or'' not recorded at all (it become a frontier country, 'borderland').  

The early medieval Western Balkans must have had multiple small Slavic ethnic tribes. In some cases the newly arrived Slavs lived amongst the population that was there prior to their arrival. It is my opinion that for whatever reason it appears that their history has not been recorded accurately ''or'' not recorded at all (it become a frontier country, 'borderland').  

When the Serbian forces were annihilated in the ''Battle of Kosovo'' by the [[Directory:Turkey|Ottoman Empire]] in '''1389''' very large groups of peoples started to migrate westward. The Ottomans caused huge instability in the area and actually managed to twice besiege Vienna. The Western Balkans from that period forward began to acquire new groups of people in its regions (i.e.,Eastern Croats, Serbs, Albanians, Greeks, Turks & others), thus creating new ethnic mixes. I believe that due to these events the old Slavic '''tribal''' borders, what was left of them, changed forever during the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries.  

When the Serbian forces were annihilated in the ''Battle of Kosovo'' by the [[Directory:Turkey|Ottoman Empire]] in '''1389''' very large groups of peoples started to migrate westward. The Ottomans caused huge instability in the area and actually managed to twice besiege Vienna. The Western Balkans from that period forward began to acquire new groups of people in its regions (i.e.,Eastern Croats, Serbs, Albanians, Greeks, Turks & others), thus creating new ethnic mixes. I believe that due to these events the old Slavic '''tribal''' borders, what was left of them, changed forever during the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries.  

== Language and Identity - Politics of Language Standardisation ==

== Language and Identity - Politics of Language Standardisation ==

The old language groups which have become diluted over time and are slowly becoming extinct (now referred to as dialects) may reflect some of the many original Slavic tribes who invaded Roman Dalmatia.  

The old language groups which have become diluted over time and are slowly becoming extinct ('''now referred''' to as dialects) may reflect some of the many original Slavic tribes who invaded Roman Dalmatia.  

It is important to stress that these dialects in early medieval time could have been seen as languages (and separate tribes). Current main dialect groups within modern Croatia are:

It is important to stress that these dialects in early medieval time could have been seen as languages (and separate tribes,but was not important enough to report especially by the Greco-Roman-Frankish Community). Current main dialect groups within modern Croatia are:

* Chakavian dialect

* Chakavian dialect

* Kajkavian dialect

* Kajkavian dialect