President Stevo Pendarovski addressed today the opening of the manifestation Open Days at the Macedonian Language Institute “Krste Misirkov”. This year’s event is held in honor of the 75th anniversary of the formalization of the modern Macedonian language, alphabet and orthography.
Emphasizing that the Macedonian language has been standardized for seven and a half decades, President Pendarovski stressed that unfortunately even today “we are still challenged to prove the notorious fact of its uniqueness and existence”.
Distinguished Rector of the “St. Cyril and Methodius” University, Prof. Dr. Nikola Jankulovski,
Dear Director of the Macedonian Language Institute “Krste Misirkov”, Prof. Dr. Elena Jovanova-Grujovska,
Dear Professors,
Dear Linguists,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and gentlemen,
First of all, let me congratulate you on the great jubilee – 75 years since the formalization of the modern Macedonian language. Namely, on May 5, 1945, the Macedonian alphabet was legalized, and on June 7, the first textbook, a primer in Macedonian language, was published. You have chosen this important anniversary as topic of the open days of the Macedonian Language Institute “Krste Misirkov”, along with other contents, including the important international conference on the “Macedonian Language – A Source of Scientific Research (at home and abroad)”.
The act of formalization and standardization of the Macedonian language has a long pre-history in the activities and works of Gjorgjija Pulevski, Jordan Hadzi Konstantinov-Dzinot, Parthenij Zografski and many other cultural figures from the 19th century and culminates with the work of Misirkov. Therefore, it is no coincidence that the Macedonian Language Institute bears his name. Of course, the process would not have been completed had it not been for the People’s Liberation Struggle, the liberation from fascism and the establishment of the Macedonian Republic as an equal federal unit in the then Yugoslavia.
Dear Friends,
Unfortunately, despite the fact that 7 and a half decades have passed since the standardization of the Macedonian language and after its existence, in the meantime, it was confirmed by the world linguistic science, we are still challenged to prove the notorious fact of its uniqueness and existence.
It is interesting that the denial does not come from relevant, world linguistic authorities and institutes that have long spoken out on this issue, but from certain, mostly political – academic circles in our immediate environment.
Without intending to burden today’s ceremony with daily political rhetoric, something that is directly opposite to the occasion for which we are gathered, I just want to stress that the scientific arguments and the truth are on our side and no reasonable person can give them up.
Because of our ancestors, because of ourselves, because of the obligation to preserve our spiritual homeland as the great Blaze Koneski once said for our language. It was Koneski with his capital works, including the Grammar of the Macedonian Language and the History of the Macedonian Language, who laid a solid foundation for all further studies on the Macedonian language.
Distinguished Professors and Linguists,
Building on his work and respecting those deeply dug foundations, I ask you with even greater passion to continue with your scientific work and efforts to study and affirm the Macedonian language.
On this occasion, I would like to loudly reaffirm the need for enhanced and continuous support of the scientific research on the Macedonian language and the Macedonian dialects. To this end, all relevant institutions and factors in the country must invest much more than before.
Due to the budget cuts, which due to the pandemic, this year are alarming, the funds provided for scientific and educational institutions are reduced, which disables scientific work and stops scientific projects. I want to publicly call, to appeal to pay special attention to these issues despite the serious economic crisis, to find funds and to support all scientific research projects.
I am convinced that the Macedonian science has much more to say, as well as the numerous Slavic-Macedonians around the world. Allow me, with this thought, to end today’s address, to wish you successful work during the Open Days of the Macedonian Language Institute “Krste Misirkov”.
Thank you.
