News

will take place on

May 14, 2025   

at 16:45 CET

in Room 9, Dobra 72

Even though it is spoken by less than three million people, the Macedonian language is divided into about 30 different dialects. This dialectical diversity in Macedonia can be analyzed as a symbol of protest and cultural resistance on one hand and as a key to understanding the politics of a language on the other. The standard Macedonian language is based on the central Macedonian dialects and has served as a tool for national unification, however, dialects from Eastern and other marginalized regions have been historically stigmatized due to their closeness to neighboring Slavic languages. This reflects a broader issue in the country’s history, namely the pro-Serbian and anti-Bulgarian language ideologies prominent during the Yugoslav era. At the same time, Macedonian as a language has continuously faced denial and delegitimization by its neighbors. In this context, dialects not only resist the Skopje-centric language development in the last years, but also stand as a hard proof of the Macedonian language’s diversity, depth and strong autonomy. Reclaiming dialects means challenging dominant narratives, both in the internal and external context and affirms the legitimacy and distinctiveness of the Macedonian language.

To join the seminar online, please register before 3 PM
on the seminar day at crp@al.uw.edu.pl