From Liberation to Erasure: The Macedonian Question in Bulgarian Linguistic Discourse

• In Event: The Periphery Rebels: Liberation, Subjugation, and (De)Sacralization in Literature and Language

Abstract

This paper examines the official position of Bulgarian linguists in their publications in an effort to understand the role of extra-linguistic factors, especially ideology, in how Macedonian was treated between its declaration (=liberation) as the official language of the Republic of Macedonia in 1944 until 1968. In 1968 the BAN History Institute issued its white paper1 (BAN 1968) blaming its earlier recognition of Macedonian on political pressure and reasserting their previous claim that Macedonian is merely a dialect of Bulgarian. We investigate how the Macedonian language was treated in Bulgarian linguistic discourse during the 1950s, a discourse and time period dismissed in the current “official narrative” as being subject to political pressure by the Comintern and Stalin, thereby discrediting (and erasing) the work of linguists who recognized Macedonian. From 1968 on all Bulgarian linguists were compelled to deny the existence of a separate Macedonian language under strong political pressure and those who did not comply paid a heavy price. Unfortunately since 1992 when Macedonia became an independent nation state for the first time, the Bulgarian position has hardened and has vetoed North Macedonia’s assession to the EU unless Macedonia admits its language and history are Bulgarian. Publications continue to appear that distort the views of scholars who support the Macedonian language, or, even worse, these publications are simply erased from the scholarly discussion reflecting a policy of censorship aimed at denying the identity of Macedonians and their language.

Authors

• Grace E. Fielder, U of Arizona

• Elena Petroska, Independent Scholar