Kärntner Straße in Vienna: Will it be bilingual in the future as Koroška ulica?

Kärntner Straße in Vienna: Will it be bilingual in the future as Koroška ulica?

A proposal is currently causing lively discussions in Vienna: the former governor of Carinthia, Gerhard Dörfler, is planning a bilingual name for Kärntner Straße. The plan is to mark the street sign with the words “Kärntner Straße – Koroška ulica” in the future. Dörfler sees this as an important step in making the cultural and historical connections between Carinthia and Slovenia visible in the federal capital. The idea comes from a meeting between Dörfler and State Secretary Josef Ostermayer in Vienna and is supported by representatives of the Slovenian embassy. There, bilingualism is seen not only as a symbolic gesture, but also as an approach to promoting awareness of Slovenian culture in Austria, especially in Vienna, where these issues often fall into the background.

However, skepticism is also expressed regarding the initiative. The office of district leader Markus Figl (ÖVP) is cautious in its support. The reasons: The high administrative burden that a renaming would entail, as well as the associated costs for replacing the street signs. These costs would ultimately have to be borne by taxpayers. In addition, a cost-benefit analysis could show the idea as not very beneficial. Markus Platt, club chairman of the FPÖ Inner City, has already dismissed the proposal as a “summer joke”.

Historical background of bilingualism

Bilingualism has a long history in Carinthia, dating back to the 19th century. At that time, more than 100,000 people in southern Carinthia said Slovenian was their mother tongue. Today this number only numbers a few thousand, with a continuous decline. Historically, German was often seen as a progressive language, while Slovenian was considered backward. For many years, bilingualism was viewed as disadvantageous in the political landscape. Many people say that they find the loss of their parents' native language painful. However, the perspective on multilingualism has changed, and in many professions, especially in border areas, it brings clear advantages.

In order to strengthen connections to this historic language, Dörfler sees the bilingual signage as a positive contribution to a better understanding of Slovenian culture. With the support of Slovenian representatives, Dörfler is also submitting an application to Vienna's mayor Michael Ludwig and hopes for his support in implementing his idea.

The Kärntner Straße, which connects Vienna with Carinthia, has developed over the years into a symbol of friendship between these two regions. The conversations surrounding a possible renaming are therefore both politically and culturally important. While the city's response is awaited, it remains to be seen whether the bilingual signage will be implemented and what impact this might have on the relationship between Slovenian and Austrian cultures.

Such an initiative is certainly a step in the right direction for a better understanding and as an incentive for discussion about the role of Slovenes in Vienna. As the Slovenian embassy emphasizes, this could not only promote dialogue, but also expand social awareness of cultural diversity in Austria.

For further information on the background, read MeinBezirk, Krone or Ö1.