The status of minorities is a sensitive issue that poses a threat to peace in many regions, and it was so also in the past of the Czech lands. The most complicated issues arise if the majority and a minority in one state differ in their languages, where a large number of various particular problems occur which have to be resolved both legally and in practice, whereas they are usually terribly politicised.
Here, most attention is given to a particular problem which is the use of minority languages in public signage. It seems to be a marginal issue, however, since the era of the Monarchy public signs have been of a special symbolic importance.