legal sources; law; language; Slavic states; Middle Ages; Czech lands; Poland; Croatia

The text deals with the role of language in the legal sources of selected Slavic states. Historians have tried to find common basis of old Slavic law in connection with the formation of modern Slavic nations in the 19th century. The study of medieval legal texts brought a number of remarkable findings and also the first critical editions of the sources. However, a critical approach to the issue has shown that the idea of some original common Slavic law is unprovable, also because most of the findings were based on later, mostly high medieval sources. The main role thus gained possibilities of comparative studies and philology. The development of legal sources in the studied Slavic countries (Czech lands, Poland, Croatia) shows some common elements of legal development and an important role of the original Slavic languages, especially for the knowledge of customary law.

The text deals with the role of language in the legal sources of selected Slavic states. Historians have tried to find common basis of old Slavic law in connection with the formation of modern Slavic nations in the 19th century. The study of medieval legal texts brought a number of remarkable findings and also the first critical editions of the sources. However, a critical approach to the issue has shown that the idea of some original common Slavic law is unprovable, also because most of the findings were based on later, mostly high medieval sources. The main role thus gained possibilities of comparative studies and philology. The development of legal sources in the studied Slavic countries (Czech lands, Poland, Croatia) shows some common elements of legal development and an important role of the original Slavic languages, especially for the knowledge of customary law.