Skopje, 27 August 2023 (MIA) — Engaging in polemics on the Macedonian language is a waste of time; no one can deny the existence of Macedonian writers writing in Macedonian, according to Vlada Uroshevikj, a renowned Macedonian poet and novelist and this year's winner of the Struga Poetry Evenings' Golden Wreath award for an outstanding poetic oeuvre.

In an interview with MIA's Struga correspondent, Uroshevikj said he had always been against debating this issue with Bulgarian scholars and politicians.

"If they think our language is not authentic, let them have that opinion. What can we do? We cannot persuade them. Only they can change their own minds, one day when they see the reality. Until then, we need to keep a cool head and be indifferent. These polemics lead nowhere. They are a waste of time, in my opinion. Let them say what they want. We know our own truth," Uroshevikj said.

Asked about the waning interest in studying Macedonian at state universities, the SPE laureate said this was likely to change once there were more language editor jobs created in the private and public sectors.

"When students decide whether to enroll in a Macedonian language program, they calculate their chances of employment. It is not just about liking the subject and whether you want to study it. The practical thinking about whether you can find a job after you graduate also plays a role," Uroshevikj said.

"That is the main problem. It is good that language editor jobs have been opening in the publishing, printing, public relations [industries], which play an important role. We need more language editors so studying the Macedonian language does not carry more risks than studying any other subject," he said. mr/