18
November 2025
Language and Nationality
The only
objective element that identifies a nation is language. However, there are
states with dozens of languages (India) and languages spoken in dozens of states
(Spanish), and in every state there are linguistic minorities. On the other hand,
even languages are difficult to define. For example, in Latin countries there
are actually local languages (dialects?) and national languages: are Venetian
and Valencian languages or dialects?
In the USSR there were dozens of languages, but everyone also spoke Russian. So,
are they all Russians, or do they belong to dozens of different nationalities?