The Kostel dialect (Slovene: kostelsko narečje [kɔsˈtéwskɔ naˈɾéːt͡ʃjɛ], kostelska belokranjščina, kostelščina; Serbo-Croatian: kostelsko narječje), in Croatian literature also eastern microdialects of Western Goran subdialect (Serbo-Croatian: zapadni goranski poddijalekt, zapadni gorskokotarski poddijalekt, Slovene: zahodni goranski govori, zahodni gorskokotarski govori), is a dialect spoken along the Kupa Valley in Slovenia and Croatia, around Banja Loka and Brod na Kupi. The dialect originates from Alpine Slavic, a predecessor of modern Slovene, but speakers living in Croatia self-identify as speaking Croatian. The dialect borders the Mixed Kočevje subdialects to the north, the Southern White Carniolan and Eastern Goran dialect to the east, the Čabranka dialect to the west, and the Goran dialects to the south and east, as well Shtokavian, which is spoken in Moravice and neighboring villages. The dialect belongs to the Lower Carniolan dialect group, and it evolved from the Lower Carniolan dialect base. Until recently, the neighboring Čabranka dialect was considered part of the Kostel dialect, but it was later discovered that both dialects had evolved separately but are in process of becoming more similar to each other.
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Kostel dialect in the context of Slovene dialects
In a purely dialectological sense, Slovene dialects (Slovene: slovenska narečja [sloʋènska narét͡ʃja], Serbo-Croatian: slovenska narječja [slǒʋeːnskaː nǎːrjeːt͡ʃja]) are the regionally diverse varieties that evolved from old Slovene, a South Slavic language of which the standardized modern version is Standard Slovene. This also includes several dialects in Croatia, most notably the so-called Western Goran dialect, which is actually Kostel dialect. In reality, speakers in Croatia self-identify themselves as speaking Croatian, which is a result of a ten centuries old country border passing through the dialects since the Francia. In addition, two dialects situated in Slovene (and the speakers self identify as speaking Slovene) did not evolve from Slovene (left out in the map on the right). The Čičarija dialect is a Chakavian dialect and parts of White Carniola were populated by Serbs during the Turkish invasion and therefore Shtokavian is spoken there.
Spoken Slovene is often considered to have at least 48 dialects (narečja) and 13 subdialects (podnarečja). The exact number of dialects is open to debate, ranging from as many as 50 to merely 7. According to the official chart, published by the Fran Ramovš Institute, there are 48 dialects and 13 subdialects, but that includes all dialects spoken in Slovene. Čičarija dialect is included as a separate dialect and Shtokavian in White Carniola is merged with South White Carniolan. However, the official chart was not updated to include Čabar dialect, which was only recently been discovered to have evolved differently than Kostel dialect, under which it was traditionally listed. Therefore, that division includes 48 dialects and 13 subdialects.
Kostel dialect in the context of Lower Carniolan dialect group
The Lower Carniolan dialect group (dolenjska narečna skupina) is a group of closely related dialects of Slovene. The Lower Carniolan dialects are spoken in most of Lower Carniola and in the eastern half of Inner Carniola.
Kostel dialect in the context of South White Carniolan dialect
The South White Carniolan dialect (Slovene: južnobelokranjsko narečje [juʒnɔbɛlɔˈkɾàːnskɔ naˈɾéːt͡ʃjɛ], južna belokranjščina, Serbo-Croatian: južnobelokrajinsko narječje) is a Slovene dialect heavily influenced by Shtokavian dialects. It is spoken in southern White Carniola, south of Dobliče and Griblje. However, it is not spoken in all the settlements in that area because some are almost completely inhabited by immigrants, and so Shtokavian heavily influenced by Slovene is instead spoken there. The dialect borders the North White Carniolan dialect to the north, the Prigorje dialect to the east, Central Chakavian to southeast, the Eastern Goran dialect to the south, the Kostel dialect to the southwest, and the mixed Kočevje subdialects to the northwest, as well as those mixed Shtokavian dialects. The dialect belongs to the Lower Carniolan dialect group, and it evolved from the Lower Carniolan dialect base.