SOURCE: Herrity, Peter. “Francè Prešeren and the Slovene Literary Language.” In The Formation of the Slavonic Literary Languages, edited by Gerald Stone and Dean Worth, pp. 147-59. Columbus, Ohio: Slavica Publishers, Inc., 1985.

In the following essay, originally published in 1983, Herrity discusses the important role played by Prešeren in the formation of the Slovene literary language. Herrity asserts that the poet hoped this new language could be used to refine and express his people's cultural and intellectual needs.

Although France Prešeren (1800-1849) is acknowledged to be the greatest of the Slovene poets, the important role that he played in the formation of the Slovene literary language is not always fully appreciated. His vigorous independent ideas about the cultivation and development of the literary language are to be found in his letters as well as in his poetry, often expressed in the biting wit and probing satire...