Skopje, 5 May 2025 (MIA) – Due to mass migration of young people, Macedonian language currently has more speakers in the diaspora than in the homeland. We have to protect the language by consistently abiding by the constitutional norm and also in the digital era in order to be available to the diaspora and to future generations, President Gordana Siljanovska Davkova said.

Monday’s formal academy marking the 80th anniversary of the Macedonian standard language codification, held at the Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts in Skopje, takes place under the President’s auspices.

“We’re seeing the language being used less in official use in the country. Petre M. Andreevski was right warning the language might be put at risk by its speakers as well irrespective of whether it is done due to negligence or ignorance. Treason of the language is treason of your own parents and your own children. And so many of our children are emigrating abroad,” said Siljanovska Davkova.

Due to mass migration of young people, she stressed, currently Macedonian language has more speakers in the diaspora than in the homeland.

“According to UNESCO, around three thousand languages are at risk of disappearing by the end of this century, meaning one language may disappear every two weeks. We mustn’t allow Macedonian language to have this fate. We have to do everything in our power to protect it,” the President said.

It could be done in three ways, according to her. With consistent honouring of the constitutional norm according to which the official language is Macedonian and its Cyrillic alphabet.

Siljanovska Davkova called for the Macedonian language to be increasingly used in official communications at all levels, in all state institutions.

“Also, we can protect the language with digitization. Only by digitizing Macedonian works, can we succeed in transferring Macedonian language in the digital era in order to be available for the diaspora and for future generations,” stated the President.

The event also saw addresses by MANU Presdient Zhivko Popov, Minister of Education and Science Vesna Janevska, Minister of Culture and Tourism Zoran Ljutkov and President of the Macedonian Language Council, Simona Gruevska – Madzoska. 

Photo: MIA