junk
Piotr writes: BTW, there are also Slovenians, Slovaks
(who call their country Slovensko) and Slovincians(an extinct ethnos
close
to the Kashubians in northern Poland).
Simona comments: I've been taught that I should call myself and
the language I speak Slovene when speaking English. But recently the
adjective
Slovenian can be seen as well. I don't think it's very common to use it
as a noun.
Piotr further responds:
Thanks for the correction, Simona. Of course Slovene is the
correct
word for an inhabitant of Slovenia. As a brother Slav I should have
known
better, but I was writing in haste. Nevertheless, Slovenian for the
language
can be found very often, especially in American sources.
Yes, most Americans would say 'Slovenian' as the adjective and noun
for the nationality and language. We Americans need to be reminded what
other peoples prefer to be called in English; sometimes, though, as with
any language, moving us to the 'preferred' word is a lost battle.
For myself, I treasure the name Carniola. This is what Franz Joseph
called what is essentially modern Slovenia. Carniola is as redolant of
exotic Middle European places as is Transcarpatian Ruthenia, Eastern
Rumelia
or Bukhovina, to mention just a few.
Mark.