Palimpsest is an international journal for linguistic, literary and cultural research founded at the Faculty of Philology in Stip in 2016. It is published electronically twice a year, the first issue in May and the second one in November. The journal publishes papers in the area of linguistics, literary science, teaching methodology and culturology. In addition, there is a section reserved for reviews of books, monographs, and other publications in the sphere of philology and culturology. The international journal Palimpsest publishes papers in the following languages: Macedonian, English, Russian, German, Italian, French and Turkish. All papers are double-blind peer-reviewed by two independent reviewers prior to being accepted for publication.
Goce Delcev University, Faculty of Philology, Stip, Republic of Macedonia
REVIEW AND ANALYTICAL REFLECTION ON THE PROJECT: “CONTEMPORARY APPROACHES IN INTERCULTURAL PRAGMATICS RESEARCH AND ITS APPLICATION IN TEACHING – FROM SCIENTIFIC CONCEPTS TO PRACTICAL IMPLEMENTATION”
Modern foreign language teaching increasingly emphasizes the need to integrate intercultural pragmatic competence among foreign language learners as a key segment of the educational process. Pragmatics, as a discipline that studies language in a specific communicative context, provides insight into the ways speakers from different cultures express their intentions in a culturally appropriate and acceptable manner. This project explores contemporary approaches in intercultural pragmatics and their practical application in the teaching of German and English as foreign languages, in comparison with the Macedonian language and the speech patterns of native speakers. The research focuses on the impact of cultural differences on communication strategies, the phenomenon of politeness, and the interpretation of speech acts in interlanguage communication. Theoretical frameworks from sociopragmatics, cultural and anthropological analysis of communication, as well as contrastive pragmatics, are applied. The empirical data comprise a corpus of authentic discourses, with the aim of identifying culturally specific patterns and developing teaching strategies to enhance pragmatic awareness among foreign language learners. The project is original in its emphasis on the practical application of intercultural pragmatics in teaching and its orientation towards a globally relevant yet insufficiently researched topic. The results have the potential to significantly improve curricula and create teaching modules with practical value for the European and wider academic community, opening opportunities for international cooperation in the fields of applied linguistics, second foreign language teaching, and intercultural communication.
intercultural pragmatics; speech acts; politeness; pragmatic competence; foreign language teaching; contrastive analysis.
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BECOMING A TEACHER: HOW PRE-SERVICE GFL TEACHERS PERCEIVE THEIR TEACHER ROLE DURING THE PRACTICUM
This article examines how prospective teachers of German as a foreign language perceive and reflect on their teacher role after their first teaching experiences. The analysis is based on 40 written reflections by students completed during their school practicums. The article presents the results of the deductive analysis, which reveal that the role conceptions of these future GFL teachers are already complex and dynamic at an early stage of practice, but emphasize above all organizational, motivational, and relationship-oriented aspects. The practicum emerges as a significant space for developing teacher identity, providing opportunities both to confirm and to critically question idealized notions of the teacher role.
МЕТОДИКА НА НАСТАВАТА / TEACHING METHODOLOGY
teacher role; teacher identity; school practicum; reflection; teacher education.
THE OBJECTIVITY OF THE STUDENTS’ ACHIEVEMENTS ASSESSMENT
Students’ achievement assessment is a matter which attracts the attention of all included in the educational process and of the broader public as well. The improvement of the assessment objectivity is the ultimate and essential goal of each educational system and also of each teacher. Collecting valid information for students’ attainments and their correct interpretation are considered as key factors which influence the assessment validity and the teaching quality too. Undoubtedly, the teacher with his own personal features which affect the upgrading of the students’ achievements is in the center of this process. In this paper, the research question connects to the thought which arouse from the theoretical insight, in relation to the collection and the interpretation of students’ accomplishments, and the aim is to indicate the relative nature of the objectivity in students’ assessment. The sample contains of many theoretical sources which stress up the relevance of collecting and interpreting the information in the assessment process. The analysis rests upon the critical analysis. From the critical analysis of the theoretical insights regarding the significance of these two factors it comes up that, in fact, the objectivity is relative and that absolute objectivity cannot be achieved given that human beings with their own thoughts, beliefs, and attitudes are included in the assessment of the students’ achievements.
Assessment; achievements; students; objectivity.
THE ROLE OF SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE IN REVITALIZING URBAN AREAS: BALANCING PRESERVATION AND INNOVATION
This paper explores the urban renewal movement of the mid-20th century, focusing on the problematic approach of large-scale demolition and redevelopment in major urban centers. Driven by the belief that urban decay could be solved through the eradication of "blight," planners aimed to modernize cities by replacing mixed-use, pre-zoning neighborhoods with rationally planned, segregated urban zones. The study investigates urban renewal’s reliance on eminent domain and the consequences of displacing hundreds of thousands of residents and businesses. Using historical analysis, the paper examines the underlying thesis: urban renewal's focus on physical infrastructure, rather than social cohesion, led to significant humanitarian and economic failures. Key arguments are drawn from case studies and critiques, including Jane Jacobs’ condemnation of urban renewal's destructive impact on social capital and community networks. The analysis reveals that while planners envisioned modern cities free from "blight," the projects often failed to attract investment, worsened housing crises, and left cities with vacant lands and fragmented communities. The paper concludes that urban renewal’s neglect of social dimensions undermined its effectiveness, and that modern redevelopment efforts increasingly recognize the need to preserve and reintegrate the community fabric that earlier bulldozers destroyed. This shift towards a more human-centered urban planning approach is essential to avoid repeating past mistakes and to foster sustainable urban revitalization in the future.
Urban renewal; eminent domain; displacement; modernist architecture; urban planning; sustainable development; historical preservation.
ILIJA GARAŠANIN’S “NAČERTANIJE” AND THE INTENTIONAL OMISSION OF MACEDONIA
“Načertanije” is considered the first political and national program of the Serbian state, written in 1844 by Ilija Garašanin, a Serbian politician and diplomat. This document, in addition to its political and diplomatic role, is important as a source for understanding national ideas, but also as an indicator of the beginnings of nationalist claims in the Balkans, in the 19th century. In Garašanin's perception of the reconstruction of the medieval Serbian state, Macedonia is seen as a historical part of such a project, and therefore the Macedonian territory is neglected. There is also an overlap between the terms Northern Albania, Old Serbia and Macedonia. However, it should be noted that nowhere in Garašanin's text is the existence of the new Balkan state, the Kingdom of Greece, mentioned. According to “Načertanije”, the path of the future access of the Serbian state to the sea goes through Northern Albania, and not to the south, to the Aegean Sea. Questions arise: is Garašanin sufficiently aware of the impossibility of Serbia expanding to the south and the danger of conflict with the Greek state, which has strong western protection? If Dušan's Empire extended south, all the way to the shores of the Aegean Sea, then why does “Načartanije” not project that area into the future Serbian state and at the same time as a potential outlet to the sea? Garašanin is aware that he should not direct the territorial appetite of an insufficiently strong Serbian state towards the territory that he believes is in the sphere of interest of other more powerful European powers. At that time, in the middle of the 19th century, Serbia found itself in a subordinate position, pressured by the political and military forces, Russia and the Habsburg Monarchy.
Načertanije; Garašanin; Serbian politics in the 19th century; Macedonia; Balkan politics; the Balkans in the 19th century; territorial claim.
OTHERNESS AND GENDER PERFORMATIVITY IN JOYCE’S DUBLINERS AND ULYSSES
This paper examines the construction of women as the “other” in James Joyce’s Dubliners and Ulysses through a feminist theoretical lens, employing a close reading of selected women characters, including Eveline, Maria, Gretta Conroy, Mrs. Mooney, Gerty MacDowell, and Molly Bloom. By analyzing pivotal narrative moments such as Eveline’s paralysis at the dock, Maria’s disrupted rituals, Gretta’s emotional silence, Mrs. Mooney’s tactical manipulation of gender norms, Gerty’s self-objectification, and Molly’s embodied monologue, the paper illustrates how Joyce both reflects and subverts early twentieth-century patriarchal norms. Women’s identity is shown to be performatively constructed and narratively constrained, yet occasionally resisting these limits through fragmented acts of agency. Irigaray’s notion of woman as the supporting “mirror” to man clarifies the structural marginalization of these characters, while Butler’s emphasis on repetition and performativity exposes the instability of gender roles in Joyce’s texts. The study also engages with recent feminist literary criticism that re-evaluates Joyce’s work in light of contemporary concerns, foregrounding voice, embodiment, and shifting models of women’s subjectivity, while also addressing the intersection of gender and class through insights from material feminism and social reproduction theory. Ultimately, Joyce’s fiction is shown to participate in a complex negotiation of gendered identity, revealing both the constraints of patriarchal narrative and the latent potential for feminist disruption.
Joyce; feminist literary theory; gender performativity; otherness.
TWO GEOGRAPHIES, ONE SOUL: SUFISTIC DEPTH IN THE POETRY OF ILHAMI EMIN AND BAHTIYAR VAHAPZADE
This article aims to trace Sufi tendencies in modern Turkish literature by comparatively examining the poetry of two prominent Turkish poets, Ilhami Emin and Bahtiyar Vahapzade, who grew up in different geographical and cultural environments. Although they belong to the same nation, one was raised in North Macedonia and the other in Azerbaijan. The study focuses on how Sufism is reflected in their works, which themes stand out, and how these themes are expressed through their poetic language. The research is based on comparative and philological methods. Ilhami Emin, regarded as a cornerstone of North Macedonian Turkish literature, explores Sufi themes primarily through an individual and introspective lens, emphasizing the human soul and spiritual depth. His poetry is enriched with abstract imagery and symbolism, inviting readers into an inner journey and spiritual quest. On the other hand, Bahtiyar Vahapzade, a powerful voice in Azerbaijani literature, addresses Sufi elements not only on a personal level but also from a national and social perspective. His poetry emphasizes the soul of the people, historical identity, and spiritual values. The influence of classical Sufi poets such as Mevlânâ, Yunus Emre, and Fuzûlî is clearly evident in Vahapzade's work. While the two poets differ in their approaches to Sufi poetry, the article reveals that they converge in a shared spiritual sensibility. Ilhami Emin’s inward, symbolic expression and Bahtiyar Vahapzade’s direct and socially grounded poetic voice both represent diverse reflections of Sufism in modern Turkish poetry.
Ilhami Emin; Bahtiyar Vahapzade; poetry; Sufism; soul; spirituality.
THE DENIED WORD: THE HERMETIC AND TRANSLATIONAL WORK OF ZEF ZORBA BETWEEN CENSORSHIP, SILENCE AND POETIC MEMORY
This paper examines Zef Zorba as both a hermetic poet and a translator, highlighting his creative path within a context of censorship and cultural repression. His poetic work—largely unpublished and preserved in what can be described as a form of “drawer literature”—emerges as a subtle yet firm act of resistance. Marked by a profound and deliberate hermeticism, Zorba’s writing seeks refuge in silence, ambiguity, and compressed expression. Deeply influenced by the Italian hermetic poets—Montale, Ungaretti, and Quasimodo, whom he translated with remarkable fidelity and sensitivity—Zorba’s verse reflects a poetics of concealment. His lyrical voice constructs a layered and intertextual palimpsest, where beneath the surface of restrained language traces of memory, quiet dissent, and a resilient faith in poetry and translation as ethical acts are laid. This study considers how his hermetic style and translations operate as dual gestures of survival and transmission—offering poetry as an invisible archive and translation as a way of bearing witness across languages and histories.
Zef Zorba; poet; translator; hermetic; persecuted.
THE HUMANISTIC ASPECTS IN THE NOVEL “KALESH ANGJA” BY STALE POPOV
The novel “Kalesh Angja” by Stale Popov is a literary work of profound historical and ethical value, depicting the struggle for freedom of the Macedonian people and the preservation of human dignity. This paper focuses on the humanistic aspects represented in the novel, examining the personal choices, moral strength and values of the main character - the beautiful Mari woman Angja. Through the analysis of her defiance before the Ottoman government, universal human values are highlighted: the right to freedom, the preservation of personal and national identity, love for the homeland and perseverance in the face of injustice. Parallel to her, we also encounter the humanistic characteristics of Mehmet Pasha Sokolović, in whose character the power of the Ottoman statesman and deep human values are intertwined. Although he is part of the Ottoman government, Mehmet Pasha is not presented as a cruel tyrant, but as a man who values dignity, honor and human feelings. He has a broader understanding of different cultures and religions, and his attitude is not filled with hatred but with an attempt to find a human connection between differences. This paper confirms that the novel “Kalesh Angja” is a historical account that sends a strong humanistic message that is valid beyond the time in which it was created.
Humanism; Angja; Mehmet Pasha; struggle for freedom; human dignity.
PSEUDONYMS, INITIALS AND ANONYMS IN MACEDONIAN LITERATURE FROM THE FIRST HALF OF THE 20TH CENTURY
This study deciphers and analyses Macedonian literary pseudonyms from the first half of the 20th century. During this period, the development of Macedonian literature occurred under different conditions compared to the previous century, with some Macedonian authors also belonging to other literary traditions. Consequently, when discussing Macedonian pseudonyms in the first half of the 20th century, emphasis is placed on the interwar period. The artistic merit of Macedonian literary works from this time increased despite various political, ideological, and economic pressures which necessitated the use of pseudonyms. Several authors who employed pseudonyms are now considered foundational to contemporary Macedonian literature, including Kočo Racin, Angel Žarov, Venko Markovski, Gjorgji Abadžiev, and Kole Nedelkovski. By understanding pseudonyms, the Macedonian literature is enriched and increases in quantity and quality. Therefore, we emphasize the importance of such studies.
pseudonyms; initials; anonyms; Macedonian literature in the first half of the 20th century; Macedonian literary circle.
THE DEVELOPMENT OF TURKISH LITERATURE IN MACEDONIA DURING THE OTTOMAN PERIOD
During their long-standing presence in the Balkan Peninsula, the Ottomans and their culture experienced significant spiritual and cultural development. This development was greatly influenced by numerous poets, writers, and scholars who created various works in the fields of poetry and prose during the classical Ottoman period. During this period, mystical poetry, religious literature, and scientific literature achieved remarkable success. Naturally, this progress was accompanied by advancements in other areas such as architecture, the art of manuscript illumination and decoration, philosophy, and more. Different styles and movements in these fields spread throughout the empire via various institutions, including the sultan’s high madrasas, the madrasas in major cities, and the lodges (tekkes) of various dervish orders, where numerous mystics and sheikhs were active. While poets and writers in the classical period predominantly produced texts with religious themes, by the 19th century, literature and poetry had begun to take on a national character, reflecting the aspirations of the Turkish people.
Balkan Peninsula; Ottomans; poets; literature; architecture; art.
FROM CLASSICAL MYTH TO CONTEMPORARY NARRATIVE: ARIADNE IN THE J. SAINT’S REWRITING
This paper examines the Ariadne’s figure in the classical mythographic tradition and its contemporary rewriting by Jennifer Saint, aiming to investigate the relationship between narrative mutability and the construction of female identity. The research is based on the premise that the plurality of mythic versions does not produce a polyphonic identity, but rather generates a progressive erosion of subjectivity, reducing Ariadne to a shaded narrative figure deprived of symbolic autonomy. The methodology combines a comparative analysis of the main classical sources (Homer, Hesiod, Catullus, Ovid) with a critical reading of the novel Ariadne, focusing on the rewriting strategies and narrative mechanisms that, despite modifying mythical content, preserve the underlying structures. The approach is intertextual and thematic, aiming to trace the representation of Ariadne and assess the ability of contemporary rewritings to reshape cultural memory and redefine identity models. The results highlight how the narrative mutability characterizing Ariadne does not foster a plurality of identities but instead produces a condition of absence, due to the lack of semantic and symbolic continuity. Even contemporary rewritings, though ideologically aware, struggle to disrupt the genealogies of trauma and marginality, confirming the need to imagine alternative narrative models capable of restoring subjectivity to historically marginalized female figures.
fragmentation; identity; memory; mythography; rewriting.
GENDER, HERITAGE, AND SUSTAINABILITY: INTEGRATING NORTH SUMATRAN ORAL LITERATURE INTO EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Oral literary traditions function as sophisticated mechanisms of gender regulation while preserving valuable environmental knowledge, creating complex challenges for Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) implementation. This study examines oral literature across Tamil, Chinese, and Malay communities in North Sumatra through feminist and postcolonial theoretical frameworks to analyze their pedagogical potential for culturally responsive sustainability education. Using ethnographic methodology, we documented folktales, pantun, ritual practices, and environmental traditions, examining how these materials construct gender roles and ecological relationships. The comparative analysis reveals that patriarchal ideologies adapt their justifications to diverse cultural contexts while maintaining consistent outcomes of female subordination. Tamil traditions use Hindu mythology, Chinese narratives emphasize Confucian virtue, and Malay texts invoke Islamic equality alongside practical limitations. However, these same traditions contain sophisticated ecological knowledge about sustainable resource management and community cooperation. The findings demonstrate that traditional knowledge systems require critical engagement rather than wholesale adoption in ESD curricula. While oral literature offers valuable environmental wisdom and cultural legitimacy for sustainability education, embedded gender hierarchies’ conflict with ESD principles of inclusive participation. Effective integration demands explicit analysis of cultural contradictions to preserve ecological knowledge while challenging patriarchal structures.
Oral Literature; Education for Sustainable Development Society (ESDS); gender equality; environmental preservation; cultural heritage.
POSTCOLONIAL ECOLOGIES: REPRESENTING SLOW VIOLENCE IN DARI RAHIM OMBAK AND THE HOUSE OF MANY GODS
This article examines how The House of Many Gods (2007) by Kiana Davenport and Dari Rahim Ombak (2015) by Tison Sahabuddin Bungin expose slow violence by connecting environmental destruction to colonial legacies, military occupation, and state neglect. Both novels document long-term ecological damage—nuclear contamination in Hawai'i and coral reef destruction in Indonesia—that persists through institutional indifference and normalized exploitation. Drawing on Rob Nixon's concept of slow violence, this study analyzes how these texts challenge mainstream environmental narratives that marginalize Indigenous knowledge and obscure the political dimensions of ecological harm. Davenport demonstrates how U.S. military infrastructure displaces Native Hawaiian communities and violates sacred landscapes. Bungin traces how economic pressure and corruption perpetuate destructive fishing practices that devastate marine ecosystems. Both authors present resistance through local practices that preserve cultural identity while protecting natural resources. This comparative analysis reveals how postcolonial fiction reframes environmental crisis as fundamentally linked to questions of political sovereignty, economic justice, and cultural survival.
Indigenous resistance; maritime literature; postcolonial ecocriticism; slow violence; Global South literature.
FORMAL SEMANTICS AND THE MEANING IN LITERARY DISCOURSE: BETWEEN PRECISION AND INTERPRETATION
This paper explores the subtle boundaries between formal semantics and the meaning in literary discourse, raising the question of whether strict logical systems can capture the complexity of the literary text. Formal semantics strives to construct a language that eliminates the ambiguities of everyday expression in order to achieve precision and objectivity. However, literature is characterized by ambiguity, polysemy, and cultural conditioning, which make it an “open system” that can hardly be fully reduced to formal rules.The paper examines this contrast through the parallel between language as a formal system and literature as a space of interpretation. Special attention is given to the role of the reader, the context, and the process of interpretation in the creation of meaning.The aim of the paper is to show that, while formal semantics offers clear and precise frameworks for the analysis of language, literature demonstrates the depth and complexity of meaning, which is always dynamic and interpretative. In this way, the necessity of combining semantic and hermeneutic perspectives for a more comprehensive understanding of the literary text is emphasized.The paper is based on a combined method of theoretical analysis and critical interpretation: formal semantics is examined through logical and semantic perspectives, while literary texts are analyzed through hermeneutic and semiotic approaches in order to identify ambiguity, polysemy, and contextual meaning.
formal semantics; literary meaning; ambiguity; polysemy; interpretive process; integrative approach.
WHERE THERE IS A VOICE, THERE IS A SPEAKER!
The starting point of the research is the thesis of the interpretive potential of the historical novel about history and its historiographical verifications. The theoretical framework of the study is based on Linda Hutcheon's, Brian McHale's, and Elizabeth Wesseling's conceptions of the historical novel, which will be applied interpretatively to the novel Accused: Viera Gran by Polish author Agata Tuszynska. The interpretive focus is on the narrative procedures that articulate Tuszynska's novel's (re)interpretative relations to history and (meta)interpretative relations to existing textualizations of history, as well as their epistemological and (post)memorial implications.
revisionist historical novel; interpretation; history; postmemory.
80 YEARS OF UNRESTRICTED DEVELOPMENT OF MACEDONIAN LITERATURE: REFLECTIONS AND THEORETICAL NOTES
This paper summarizes the author’s research on the formation and evolution of Macedonian literature in the Macedonian literary language, focusing on its fundamental characteristics and key influencing factors. Special attention is given to the so-called uneven or “accelerated” development observed in the Macedonian literature from 1945 until the early 1980s. Drawing on the works of prominent Russian scholars such as Gorgi Gachev, Gannady Pospelov and Alexander Gugnin, as well as Macedonian researchers like Milan Gjurchinov and Miodrag Drugovac, the paper analyzes the processes that enriched Macedonian culture. Its growth was grounded in both- folklore and the legacy of world literature. In the immediate postwar period, Russian literary traditions played a particular important role. In the following decades, symbolism, surrealism, existentialism and expressionism from European and Russian literature simultaneously took root in Macedonian literary ground. A modern system of literary genres was established in a remarkably short time. The role of translation in shaping and developing the national literature is also emphasized as well. Special attention is paid to the significance of Blaze Koneski in enriching the national literary heritage. Contemporary writers increasingly draw on their own artistic traditions and strive to resist the challenges posed by globalization, especially regarding threats to national languages.
Macedonian literature; accelerated development; literary context; Gorgi Gachev; Gennady Pospelov; Alexander Gugnin; Blaze Koneski.
VERBALIZATION OF THE EMOTION “JOY” IN GERMAN AND ALBANIAN. A PHRASEOLOGICAL STUDY IN THE LIGHT OF COGNITIVE LINGUISTICS
The focus of this study is to examine the expression possibilities of the emotion "joy" in German and Albanian through phraseological units from a cognitive linguistic perspective. It primarily involves a lexical analysis of emotional expressions, examining various aspects of the emotional vocabulary, such as metaphoricity and symbolism. In doing so, we aim to answer the following research questions: a) How is joy conceptualized in phraseological units of German and Albanian? b) Which culturally relevant symbols and linguistic images are contained therein? The goal of this contrastive study is to contribute to the field of emotion linguistics with regard to the German and Albanian language. Particularly, in light of the current state of research in Albanian cognitive and emotion linguistics, we aim to partially fill a research gap.
emotion linguistics; cognitive linguistics; phraseology; somatisms.
SOME OF THE MOST FREQUENT LEXICAL ERRORS MADE IN WRITTEN AND ORAL TRANSLATION BY MACEDONIAN LEARNERS OF ITALIAN LS
This paper concerns the most common lexical errors made in written and oral Italian translations by Macedonian learners of Italian as a second language (L2) attending the final two years of the four-year degree program in Italian Language and Literature at the Faculty of Philology of the Ss. Cyril and Methodius University of Skopje. The corpus of our investigation, which began at the beginning of the pandemic, consists of the written and oral language produced by learners in switching from L1 into L2 during lessons in Translation Practice and Simultaneous Interpreting from Macedonian into Italian. Our study aims to identify the lexical deviations these subjects encountered most frequently in their codification in the target language and to identify the internal or external reasons that generated them, starting from the assumption that the mother tongue played a fundamental role in causing the greatest number of difficulties and therefore errors committed by learners in the target language.
translation problems; most common lexical errors; error analysis; Italian L2.
THE PRESENCE OF FOREIGN-ORIGIN MEDICAL TERMS IN TÜRKIYE TURKISH DIALECTS
<span lang="TR" style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Aptos',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Aptos; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-ansi-language: TR; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">It is known that medical terms used in Turkish language are generally of foreign origin. When we look at the public dialect, it is seen that such words are used. In addition, it is possible to see that many terms of foreign origin are used in Turkish dialect. For this study, some wildly used medical terms of foreign origin in Turkish have been determined and their presence in dialects have been investigated. To limit the study, a broad screening method was not preferred. The Derleme Sözlüğü (DS), which has sufficient lexical density, constitutes the main source of the research. Studies such as articles, books, and theses written in this field were not included. In the review section of the study, terms include disease names of Arabic and French origin such as ahras, dysentery, paralysis, influenza, pregnancy, convulsions, diarrhea, vomiting, cataract, and epilepsy. The mentioned terms continue to exist in the Turkish dialects of Türkiye; however, it is clear that these expressions have many Turkish equivalents. The French word for influenza, for example, has equivalents like dumağı, gezargi, gezeen, ingi, salım, and sökel. The word paralysis, taken from Arabic, is rendered as alınmış, bükmece, vurgun, yarım, yatağan, and yıldırım. The Arabic word for diarrhea is described with words such as aylık, burgun, buruntu, özağrısı, sürgün, tırik, and virik. Such examples are available for all other words of foreign origin in the study.
Turkish; dialect; medical term; disease; vocabulary.
DEMO: GERMAN IN MOTION. LINGUISTIC TRACES OF GERMAN IN URBAN SPACES WITH AUTOCHTHONOUS MINORITIES. THE CASE OF TRANSYLVANIA
Drawing on the societal multilingualism of Transylvania – where Romanian serves as the official language and German and Hungarian are recognized as autochthonous minority languages – this article explores the potential of the Linguistic Landscape (LL) approach for analyzing urban written discourse in multiethnic regions. The LL approach proves particularly fruitful for documenting the visibility of German as a minority language in the context of ethnic and cultural diversity, as well as for reflecting on its current status. The paper aims to demonstrate how LL can contribute to greater awareness of minority languages and more positive perceptions of linguistic diversity in multiethnic areas. This will be illustrated through the example of a project focusing on visual-linguistic traces of German in Sibiu/Hermannstadt, the cultural center of Romania's autochthonous German minority. The empirical recording of the visible presence of German as a historical regional and minority language in public spaces is relevant for preserving the identity of the remaining German minority in the region. The project is therefore also understood as a valuable contribution to understanding linguistic and cultural diversity within the context of historical multilingualism.
multilingualism; German as a minority language; Transylvania; Sibiu; linguistic landscape; citizen science.
CONVERBS АND COMPOUND CONVERB FORMATION IN THE TURKISH DIALECTS OF NORTH MACEDONIA
Adverbial Verbs, also known as converbs or gerunds, are words derived from verb-based roots and stems, and function to qualify verbs in various ways. In Turkish, adverbial verbs are verbal nouns frequently used and carry significant roles in both syntactic and semantic contexts. These structures are formed by adding suffixes such as -AsI, -A, -Ar...-mAz, -ken, -Ip, -mAdAn, -IncA, -Elİ, -dIkçA, -IncA, etc., to verb roots and stems. In a sentence, their function is to describe verbs in terms of time, quantity, manner, place-direction, and interrogative aspects. They are used only in the role of adverbs; although they carry verbal meaning, they do not take tense or mood inflections. By forming subordinate clauses, they function as explanatory units for the main clause. The formation and usage of adverbial verbs and adverbial verb groups in Turkish may vary across dialects. The aim of this study is to identify the methods of forming adverbial verbs and adverbial verb groups in the Turkish spoken in North Macedonia and to examine these methods comparatively with Turkey Turkish. For this analysis, qualitative research methods such as document analysis and survey technique were employed. As the data source, folk tales compiled from local people in Sevim Piliçkoava’s "The Structure of Turkish Fairy Tales, Book III" were used. Folk tales are among the most productive research materials as they reflect the natural language usage and dialectal features of the people. Within the scope of the study, notable findings were obtained regarding the usage of adverbial verb suffixes identified in the texts. While some adverbial verb-forming suffixes are used in the same form, some have undergone phonetic changes, and some are observed to be entirely unused. These findings reveal both the similarities and the dialect-specific differences between the dialects of North Macedonian Turkish and Turkey Turkish. Thus, the study aims to contribute to further research on these dialectal features.
adverbial verb; converb; gerund; Turkey Turkish; dialects of North Macedonian Turkish.
THE PRAGMATIC FUNCTIONS OF TIKTOK SLANG IN ADOLESCENT IDENTITY CONSTRUCTION AND PEER RELATIONSHIPS
TikTok slang has become a rapidly evolving linguistic resource that plays a central role in the everyday communication of adolescents. As social media increasingly shapes youth interactions, understanding the pragmatic functions of digital slang is essential for examining how young people negotiate identity, express emotions, and navigate peer relationships. This study explores how adolescents in grades 5-9 (aged 10 to 15) from a public school in Bitola, North Macedonia, use TikTok slang as a sociolinguistic tool within their school and online environments. Based on survey data from 119 participants, the research investigates familiarity with common slang terms, frequency of use, meaning interpretation, and attitudes toward slang within both informal and educational contexts. The findings reveal that adolescents employ slang strategically to build rapport, signal group belonging, and perform identity in ways that align with the fast-changing norms of digital culture. Slang terms such as cringe, rizz, and flex serve important interpersonal roles, from expressing humor and admiration to regulating social boundaries and managing peer evaluation. Moreover, the study highlights how multi-platform engagement enhances pragmatic competence, as adolescents learn to cope with shifting contextual cues across TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and Snapchat. While most slang is used positively or playfully, a smaller portion reflects socially sensitive or harmful language, emphasizing the need for critical digital literacy. Overall, this research contributes to a deeper understanding of how TikTok slang functions as both a linguistic and social mechanism that shapes adolescent identity, peer dynamics, and communicative development.
TikTok slang; pragmatic functions; adolescent identity; peer dynamics; social media language.
MACEDONIAN STUDENTS’ ATTITUDES TO ENGLISH: A COMPARATIVE PERSPECTIVE ACROSS REGIONS
This study explores Macedonian students’ attitudes to English across three contexts: Skopje, other urban centres, and rural communities. Data were gathered through a questionnaire designed to elicit students’ perceptions of the benefits and drawbacks of English in their everyday lives. Responses were subjected to a thematic coding analysis, and combined qualitative insights with quantitative frequency counts. Five broad themes were identified: knowledge and cognitive development, communication and social connectivity, mobility and practical advantages, access to information and opportunities, and identity and language preservation. English was overwhelmingly perceived as a valuable resource, with identity and language preservation and communication and social connectivity being the predominant themes across the three contexts. Regional variation revealed subtle differences: students from rural areas valued communication and social connectivity most, students from Skopje areas were most concerned about identity and language preservation issues, while students from other towns balanced both of these concepts. These findings underscore the dual role of English, both as a gateway to global developments and as a perceived threat to local identity, pointing to the need for language policies that foster both English proficiency and Macedonian language maintenance.
attitudes to English; Macedonian students; thematic analysis; sociolinguistic variation; language preservation.
With issue number 20, we mark the milestone tenth anniversary of the journal “Palimpsest”. Over the past decade, the journal has progressed rapidly, particularly on an international level. We refer here, first and foremost, to the positive evaluation of “Palimpsest” and its indexing in one of the prestigious databases of international scientific journals - Scopus. Furthermore, the journal has also been indexed in the CEEOL database as well as in Index Copernicus. This international success is the result of the continuous work of the editorial team, consisting of: Nina Daskalovska, Tole Belchev, Marija Leontik, Biljana Ivanovska, Jovana Karanikik Josimovska, Svetlana Jakimovska, Eva Gjorgjievska, Vesna Prodanovska-Poposka, Natka Jankova-Alagjozovska, and Ranko Mladenoski. Also of crucial importance is the significant contribution of all our esteemed professors who are members of the Editorial Board of “Palimpsest”, representing a total of 20 countries across all continents. We extend our gratitude to all of them, as well as to the administration of our University (“Goce Delcev” - Stip), from which we have received unwavering support from the very first issue up to the latest issue 20.
In this edition of “Palimpsest”, twenty-nine authors contributed twenty-two papers, eight of which are co-authored, offering valuable articles and contributions. We extend our gratitude to Elena Shalevska, Mehmet Kahraman, Marija Leontik, Marija Sokolova, Hana Pelouškova, Brikena Kadzadej, Admira Nushi, Jasmina Mojsieva-Gusheva, Sofija Ivanova, Ranko Mladenoski, Mauro Dujmović, Sunčana Tuksar, Luisa Emanuele, Zeki Gűrel, Lindita Kazazi, Aterda Lika, Katica Kjulavkova, Tűrkan Olcay, Özge Nur Ünal, Kamran Akhtar Siddiqui, Anastasija Anastasova, Martina Mihaljević, Maja Pivčević, Jonida Bushi, Ema Kristo, Marisa Janku, Kevin Simonov, Nina Daskalovska, Marina Dimitrieva-Gjorgjievska.
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OPPOSITION AS THE FOUNDATION OF THE NOVEL THE WORLD I CHOSE BY KALINA MALESKA
Award-winning novels often evoke a heightened sense of curiosity, and The World I Chose by Kalina Maleska is no exception. Recipient of the 2024 “Slavko Janevski” Novel of the Year Award, this work introduces a distinctive narrative approach that foregrounds introspection and psychological depth. At its core, the novel examines the internal world of Leona, a woman engaged in a process of self-discovery during a stage in life typically associated with self-assurance and stability. Notably, the narrative omits conventional physical descriptors such as age, hair color, or body type – elements rendered irrelevant in the context of Leona’s existential journey. Her character emerges gradually within a world she had previously perceived as external, even alien. As Leona steps out of her interiority, she embarks on the pursuit of an autonomous life, distancing herself from a manipulative former spouse and the psychological constraints that had shaped her subordination. The character is meticulously constructed through introspective narration and relational contrast with other figures, defining herself precisely through these oppositions. Keywords: opposition; introspection; character; interiority and exteriority.
WHEN ARE STUDENTS AT THEIR PEAK PERFORMANCE?
Previous studies focusing on students' productivity have shown that different times of the day impact students' productivity and efficiency. Psychology and biology explain that the circadian rhythm is a key factor influencing students' performance during lessons and exams in the morning hours. Additionally, small changes in scheduling can affect students' performance. This study tested several hypotheses in this regard and gathered the necessary data to provide valuable insights into how students are affected by the learning process and their schedules. The results revealed that students feel more productive during the late-morning and early-afternoon hours, and they prefer the most important university activities to be scheduled during this time. Furthermore, their alertness is higher in the afternoon compared to the morning. This study provides insights into university students' feelings regarding alertness, the influence of university schedules, sleeping patterns, preferences, and similar factors, from which several practical implications are derived. Keywords: productivity; schedule; alertness; morning; afternoon; university students.
WORKING WITH ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN GERMAN LESSONS: A CASE STUDY USING THE EXAMPLE OF CHATGPT
The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into German lessons opens up new perspectives and challenges for teachers and learners alike. This case study examines the use of AI-supported learning platforms and tools in German lessons at a German-Albanian language school and analyzes the effects on the learning process and student motivation. The focus is on the use of AI to improve language skills, especially in the areas of text composition, grammar, vocabulary and written communication. As part of the case study, a questionnaire was conducted on learning motivation before and after the use of an AI-based tool such as Chatbot/Chatgpt. The aim was to measure changes in motivation, learning behavior and acceptance of digital tools. The effectiveness of these technologies in day-to-day teaching is evaluated through classroom observations and discussions with students. The results show that AI tools can promote individual learning, enable real-time feedback and increase learner motivation. At the same time, challenges such as the possible dependence on technology and the need for a balanced integration of AI and traditional teaching methods were identified. This case study offers a practice-oriented insight into the opportunities and limitations of working with artificial intelligence in the German classroom and provides valuable insights for the future design of teaching concepts. Keywords: artificial intelligence; German language teaching; case study; language competence; motivation; adaptive learning platforms; feedback systems.
THE ROLE OF HISTORY IN LEARNING FOREIGN LANGUAGES: A SPECIAL FOCUS ON THE GERMAN LANGUAGE
Although the impact of historical and cultural factors on foreign language learning has long been recognized, history remains underrepresented in German language teaching. This article highlights the relevance of integrating historical content into language acquisition from both theoretical and empirical perspectives, demonstrating how such integration can enhance learners’ motivation, language proficiency, and intercultural empathy. A curriculum that systematically incorporates historical awareness—through texts, documents, or discussions of key events—can lead to more sustainable and meaningful learning outcomes. The article also provides practical recommendations for curriculum design and emphasizes the need for further research in this area. Keywords: foreign language teaching; German as a foreign language; history; intercultural competence; motivation.