Skopje, 20 February 2025 (MIA) - Our native language is more than just a means of communication, is also the basis of our identity, a protector of our cultural heritage and a bridge to future generations, Minister of Culture Zoran Ljutkov said at an event Thursday observing International Mother Language Day at the Institute of Macedonian Language "Krste Misirkov" in Skopje.

“Our soul is Macedonian, our language is Macedonian – a language of centuries, a language of resilience, a language that has embedded its thread in the embroidery of history, unceasing, proud and unyielding,” Ljutkov said.

The Minister stressed that the mother tongue stands as a testament of what a people are and have been.

“Through the mother tongue, we convey our story to the world, we preserve the spirit of the people and shape our place in history. No other heritage is as intimate and powerful as the word we carry in our hearts. This is why we should never allow for it to go silent. We should speak it proudly, keep it in our hearts, write it with love and respect. As Petre M. Andreevski once taught us – ‘This language is our testament. With it we are born and with it we die’,” Ljutkov stressed.

The head of the Institute of Macedonian Language "Krste Misirkov", Elena Jovanova-Grujovska, highlighted the risk of extinction faced by "smaller" languages, but stressed that the Macedonian language is not at risk. 

“Amidst an intensive globalization, many ‘smaller’ languages face extinction. Despite the fact it has relatively few speakers, we don’t consider the Macedonian language to be threatened since it has been codified and the Macedonian state has stood behind it for 80 years, through classes in Macedonian, through thousands of works of art and millions of published book. However, it is our duty to remain vigilant when it comes to the proper use of the Macedonian standard language. Additionally, we support the efforts of our compatriots and neighbors to nurture their native tongues,” Jovanova-Grujovska said.

International Mother Language Day is a worldwide annual observance held on 21 February to promote awareness of linguistic and cultural diversity and to promote multilingualism. First announced by UNESCO in 1999, it was formally recognized by the United Nations General Assembly with the adoption of a resolution in 2002.

Photo: MIA