Purism increases nationalism because it teaches that everything should be classified as Croatian or non-Croatian, and what comes from their own natio… - Snježana Kordić

Cases where several nations speak the same language are treated in linguistics as pluricentric languages.

There is a large discrepancy between the linguistic reality and the language politics and relevant legislation in South Slavic countries. On the one hand, according to all criteria, the linguistic reality can be described as a typical pluricentric standard language with four standardized varieties. On the other hand, school children are being segregated in Bosnia-Herzegovina as if they speak different languages. In Croatia and Serbia, the segregation takes place in the name of minority language rights, ignoring that the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages gives a clear definition of a minority language that excludes the term ‘minority language’ in this case.

Who wants to be a linguist must apply consistently linguistic criteria, not tinkering to comply with policy needs, creating the illusion that one stands still in the field of science.