LANGUAGE AND NATIONALISM. BULGARIAN-MACEDONIAN LANGUAGE DISPUTE IN THE CONTEXT OF THE SIGNED TREATY OF GOOD NEIGHBOURSHIP BETWEEN TWO COUNTRIES

Theories of nations and nationalism consider language as one of

the important factors that define the basis of a nation. The language

dispute between Bulgaria and Macedonia is not a recent issue. In its very

sharp form it exists since the second half of 19th century when the two

views were determined: one which embraced a common linguistic

standard for Macedonians and Bulgarians; and the position of the so

called makedonisti, who insisted that a separate linguistic development

for Macedonian nation must be introduced. With the codification of the

Macedonian linguistic standard in 1944, the language dispute with

Bulgaria reached another dimension. Following the proclamation of the

Macedonian Independence and their recognition by Bulgaria in 1992, a

number of contracts of mutual cooperation remained unsigned due to the

linguistic dispute. A breakthrough was made in 1999 when the

Declaration for Good Neighbourship was signed in Macedonian language

in accordance with the Constitution, and Bulgarian language in

accordance with the Bulgarian Constitution, and a formulation which was

also accepted when the Treaty of Good Neighbourship was signed in

approach to explain the genesis of Bulgarian - Macedonian language

dispute, especially its escalation following the codification of the

Macedonian standard language in 1944/1945. Analysis was performed

with the comparative approach, which included analogies with other

national linguistic contexts for the unsustainability of the Bulgarian thesis

for non-existence of an independent Macedonian language. A special

review was carried out due to the dilemma on whether the formulation

from the Treaty “Language in accordance to the Constitution” was

Bulgaria’s attempt to devalue and deny the autochthony of the

Macedonian language as an important marker of the Macedonian nation.

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