Skopje, 10 November 2025 (MIA) – The Macedonian language and Macedonian studies though studied and safeguarded for 80 years in the Macedonian state as the official language of the Macedonian people and state, still face challenges. Today, the major challenge is the use of foreign words and the fashion among young people to speak one of the world languages, Prof. Dr. Elena Jovanova-Grujovska, Director of the Krste Misirkov Macedonian Language Institute in Skopje said prior to opening of the institute’s 10th Open Days.

The Krste Misirkov Macedonian Language Institute in Skopje is organizing its 10th Open Days from Monday until Friday, marking the World Science Day on November 10.

She noted that this can be seen in everyday communication, regrettably, and also in conversations young people have with their parents.

“Although they speak Macedonian, they use too many foreign words. While this is still at the lexical level, we can say it is a temporary category, a passing trend. However, once it enters the grammatical system, it becomes a serious problem because it affects the structure of the language. Such changes, as we have seen through the Balkans linguistic union and other cases, tend to remain. The fashion of using foreign words may come and go. Every generation has had its own slang, mine too, which sounds funny today. If English words are used only in everyday speech, it’s not a problem. In the 19th century, French was seen as the prestigious language, and now, unfortunately, English has taken that place,” Director Jovanova-Grujovska explained.

According to her, there must be awareness among journalists, teachers, and parents, and that awareness should be passed on to younger generations — the Macedonian language is spoken only here, in independent Macedonia, and it will exist as long as we use it.

Students from the Department of Macedonian Language at the Blaze Koneski Faculty of Philology in Skopje said they have cherished writing and learning their mother tongue since an early age. They called for the continued cultivation, preservation, study, and development of the Macedonian language for generations to come. They said their department currently attracts interest, with around 20 students enrolling each year. The students see their future careers as teachers of the Macedonian language.

Within the framework of the 10th Open Days, several significant jubilees will be observed: the 80th anniversary of the adoption of the Macedonian alphabet and the publication of the first Macedonian orthography, the centenary of the Abecedar, and birth anniversaries of Macedonian linguists – 100 years since Trajko Stamatoski, 105 since Bozhidar Vidoeski, 80 since Zdenka Ribarova, and 60 since Ubavka Gajdova.

The exhibition titled “Flowers of Peace” by Zhivko Popovski-Cvetin opened as part of the event.

Photo/video: MIA