20.500.12556/DiRROS-28613 Associations between Romani (L1) and Slovene (L2) proficiency in early schooling: quantitative evidence from Slovenia This paper presents the results of a pilot study investigating the language proficiency of Romani children before they start school and during their first three years of primary education. The children were tested in their first language (Romani, L1) and the language of instruction (Slovene, L2). The testing included 29 children from two Slovene regions: fourteen were from Prekmurje (north-east Slovenia) and fifteen were from Bela krajina (southeast Slovenia). An oral language instrument adapted for Romani was used to assess comprehension, word recall, syntax and text comprehension. Composite indices were created for L1 and L2 knowledge. Simple regression analysis revealed a weak to moderate positive correlation between L1 and L2 proficiency, though this was not statistically significant. In the moderated regression model, this positive correlation was statistically significant after adjusting for region, with no evidence of a difference in magnitude between the two regions. At an average level of L1 proficiency, average L2 achievement is higher in Prekmurje. These results suggest that systematic development of L1 can support L2 acquisition. Further research is needed on a larger sample, as well as on the effect of testing measures, and additional linguistic training is required for employees who teach Romani children in Slovene schools. Roma children Slovenia Romani as L1 Slovene as L2 influence of L1 knowledge on L2 Romski otroci Slovenija romščina kot prvi jezik slovenščina kot drugi jezik vpliv znanja prvega jezika na drugi jezik true false true Angleški jezik Nemški jezik Neznano 2026-03-25 15:45:53 2026-03-25 15:45:54 2026-03-27 04:10:19 0000-00-00 00:00:00 2026 0 0 Nasl. z nasl. zaslona; Opis vira z dne 25. 3. 2026; str. 1-25 issue Vol. 2026 0000-00-00 Zaloznikova Objavljeno NiDoloceno 0000-00-00 0000-00-00 2026-01-01 376-054.57 2192-953X 10.1515/eujal-2025-0063 272943363 https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.1515/eujal-2025-0063/html 1 54698a50-2859-11f1-aa40-001a4af901a5 https://dirros.openscience.si/Dokument.php?lang=slv&id=42504 10.1515_eujal-2025-0063.pdf 10.1515_eujal-2025-0063.pdf 1 159F5C2B548CFBFA57E39342366ADFE2 c6069598b73b1abefe1906434fbe72733a912187cfdffe4ad82771c4e3e32d2e 8cc46173-2859-11f1-aa40-001a4af901a5 https://dirros.openscience.si/Dokument.php?lang=slv&id=42505 Inštitut za narodnostna vprašanja 0 0 0