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The terms used to refer to the region that many people know as Macedonia are a source of confusion. Frequently overlapping terms are used to describe geographical, political and historical areas, languages and people. Ethnic groups inhabiting the area use different terminology for the same objects, or the same terminology for different objects, which is often confusing to foreigners and to other inhabitants of the region.

Historically, the region has presented markedly shifting borders across the Balkan peninsula. Geographically, its borders and the names of its subdivisions are defined differently by different scholars and ethnic groups. Demographically, it is mainly inhabited by three ethnic groups, two of which self-identify as Macedonians, on a national or regional level. Linguistically, the names and origins of the languages, dialects and idioms spoken in the region, are a source of controversy. Politically, the use of the Macedonia name, has led to a dispute that has reached the highest levels of international mediation (United Nations), still pending full resolution.

Despite the borderless, historic nature of the region, Macedonia can be safely considered as lying in the heart of the Balkan peninsula. Therefore, the reason for this polyonymy, heteronymy and confusion can be summarised in Winston Churchill's words: "The Balkan region has a tendency to produce more history than it can consume."

The word Macedonia itself can have one of many meanings, depending on context.

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In history

The region of Macedonia has been home to several historical political entities; the main ones are given below. The borders of each of these entities were different. The area occupied by ancient Macedon approximately coincided with contemporary Macedonia in Greece. The region was subsumed into the Ottoman Empire in the 15th century and remained this way for nearly 500 years. There was no administrative division of Macedonia within the Ottoman Empire.

Political entities which have used and continue to use the name "Macedonia" are:

In geography

Macedonia (as a current geographical term) refers to a region of the Balkan peninsula in south-eastern Europe. Although the region's borders are not officially defined by any international organization or state, in some contexts, the territory appears to correspond to the basins of (from west to east) the Haliacmon (Aliákmon, Bistritsa), Vardar (Axios) and Struma (Strymónas) rivers, and the plains around Thessaloniki (Solun) and Serres (Serez).

In a historic context, the region presents markedly shifting borders across the Balkan peninsula, since borders were loosely defined according to the administrative requirements of its conquerors. Under the Ottoman conquest, which lasted four centuries, Macedonia was not an administrative division of the Ottoman Empire, and the name disappeared from most maps. McCarthy, J. (2001) The Ottoman Peoples and the End of Empire (Oxford : Oxford University Press) ISBN 0340706570 Geographer H.R. Wilkinson, suggests that the region "defies definition".Wilkinson, H. R. (1951) Maps and Politics; a review of the ethnographic cartography of Macedonia (Liverpool : Liverpool University Press) Its current geographical limits are nonhomogeneous – either ethnically or geographically – and they seem to have been established only in 1899, by the Greek cartographer C. Nicolaides for political purposes. The map area was adopted by some Bulgarian geographers like V. Kancev, in 1900 and D.M. Brancoff in 1905. The perception of the division of a single area emerged as a historical hindsight. For more details, see Boundaries and definitions section in Macedonia (region).

Ethnic Macedonian nationalist fringe groups have expressed irredentist claims to what they refer to as "Aegean Macedonia" (in Greece), "Pirin Macedonia" (in Bulgaria), "Mala Prespa and Golo Bardo" (in Albania), and "Gora and Prohor Pchinski" (in Serbia). The region borders, as defined in the map above, as well as the relative terminology that follows, exactly coincide with maps produced by ethnic Macedonian nationalists, despite the fact that ethnic Greeks, Bulgarians, Albanians and Serbs form the overwhelming majority of the population of each region respectively. These fringe groups have received no official encouragement from the government of the Republic of Macedonia, especially since 1995 when a constitutional ammendment was added stating that there were no territorial claims on neighbouring countries. A thorough explanation on these irredentist claims is discussed in the article, United Macedonia.

The region of Macedonia is commonly divided into three majorDanforth, L. M. (1997) The Macedonian Conflict: Ethnic Nationalism in a Transnational World (Princeton : Princeton University Press), p.44, ISBN 0691043566 and two minor sub-regions. The name Macedonia appears under certain contexts on the major regions, while the smaller ones are traditionally referred to by other local toponyms:

Major sub-regions

The region of Macedonia is commonly split geographically into three main sub-regions, especially when discussing the Macedonian Question. The terms are used in non-partisan scholarly works, although more often they are used in ethnic Macedonian literature of an irredentist nature:

Minor parts

In addition to the above named sub-regions, there are also two other regions, in Albania and Serbia respectively. These regions are also considered geographically part of Macedonia. They are referred to by ethnic Macedonians as:

In demographics

The main disambiguation issue in demographics is the self-identifying name of two contemporary groups. The ethnic Macedonian population of the Republic of Macedonia self-identify as "Macedonian" on a national level, while the Greek Macedonians self-identify as both "Macedonian" on a regional, and "Greek" on a national level. This disambiguation problem has led to a wide variety of terms used to refer to the separate groups, more information of which can be found in the terminology by group section.

The self-identifying Macedonians (collectively referring to the inhabitants of the region) that inhabit or inhabited the area are:

In linguistics

As language is one of the elements tied in with national identity, the same disputes that are voiced over demographics are also found in linguistics. In terms of the word "Macedonian" to describe a linguistic phenomenon, be it a language, dialect or idiom, there are two main disputes:

On the first hand, the origins of the Ancient Macedonian language are currently unknown, with one part of the scholars believing that it was a variety of the Ancient Greek language, and another advocating a separate language hypothesis. The scientific community generally agrees that although a few findings are available there is no concrete evidence for supporting either hypothesis.

On the other hand, the Macedonian language is unrelated to the Ancient Macedonian language and suffers from two main disputes. The first dispute is over the name (alternative ways of referring to this language can be found in the terminology by group section). The second dispute is over the very existence of a distinct language (i.e. different from Bulgarian), which is disputed by certain partisan groups.Lunt, H. (1986) "On Macedonian Nationality" in Slavic Review, Vol. 45, No. 4. pp. 729-734 Further information on this can be found in the Macedonian language article.

The self-identifying names of the oral means of communication of the contemporary or historic inhabitants of the region follow:

In politics

Republic of MacedoniaN- is the constitutional name of the sovereign state which occupies the northern part of the geographical region of Macedonia. The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) is a term used to refer to this state by the United Nations, the European Union and most other international organisations. The term came to be used as the result of a naming dispute with Greece. Some countries use this term as a stop-gap measure before a full resolution of the naming dispute.

Greece and the Republic of Macedonia each consider this name a compromise: it is opposed by Greece for containing the Greek self-identifying name Macedonia, and by Republic of Macedonia for not being the short self-identifying name. Greece uses it in both the abbreviated (FYROM or ΠΓΔΜ)N- and spellout form (πρώην Γιουγκοσλαβική Δημοκρατία της Μακεδονίας).

A region of Greece is also called Macedonia, divided in the three sub-regions (peripheries) of West, Central, and East Macedonia.

Names in the languages of the region

Macedonia
{| Albanian: Maqedonia   Macedonian: Македонија (Makedonija) Armenian: Մակեդոնիա (Makedonia)   Romany: ''Makedoniya' Aromanian: Machidunia   Russian: Македония (Makedonija) Bulgarian: Македония (Makedonija)   Serbian: Македонија, Makedonija Greek: Μακεδονία (Makedonia)   Turkish: Makedonya Ladino: Makedonia, מקדוניה

Terminology by group

All these controversies have led ethnic groups in Macedonia to use terms in conflicting ways. Despite the fact that these terms may not always be used in a pejorative way, they are generally perceived as such by the receiving ethnic group. Both Greeks and ethnic Macedonians, generally use all terms deriving from Macedonia to describe their own ethnic or regional group, and have devised several other terms to disambiguate the other side, or the region in general.

A proportion of Bulgarians and ethnic Macedonians have extremist views about their inter-relatedness. On the one hand, extremist ethnic Macedonians seek to emphasise their national, linguistic and historical distinction from the Bulgarians. On the other hand, extremist Bulgarians seek to downplay this distinctiveness, and are often supported by extremist Greeks. Bulgarians and ethnic Macedonians seek to deny the self-identification of the Slavic speaking minority in northern Greece, which mostly self-identifies as Greek. Extremists on all sides have been known to fabricating and reproducing falsified information, along with denying genuine information and propagating unscientific and psuedoscientific theories.

Certain terms are in use by these groups as outlined below. Any denial of self-identification by any side, or any attribution to Macedonia related terms by third parties to the other side, can be seen as highly offensive. General usage of these terms follows:

Bulgarian terminology

  • Garkomani (Гъркомани) is a derogatory term used to refer to the largest portion of the Slavic-speaking minority of Macedonia in Greece who self-identify as Greeks.
  • Macedonian and the Slavic dialects of Greece are considered dialects of Bulgarian by Bulgarian linguists, not independent languages or dialects of other languages (e.g. Serbian). This is also the popular view in Bulgaria. The Bulgarian government, however, has officially recognized the language.
  • Macedonism (Македонизъм), Macedonistics (Македонистика) is a derogatory term, generally synonymous with disciplines such as study of the origins of the Macedonian language and history of the Macedonian people conducted in the Republic of Macedonia and in former Yugoslavia. It is generally considered in Bulgaria to be a kind of pseudoscience.
  • Macedonist (Македонист) is a derogatory term for a person associated with the study of the origins of the Macedonian language and history of the Macedonian people (not necessarily from the Republic of Macedonia or Yugoslavia), whose studies support the official historical doctrine of the Republic of Macedonia or former Yugoslavia.
  • Old Bulgarian (Старобългарски) is the name Bulgarians give to the Old Church Slavonic language used in the Ohrid Literary School among others. In contrast, Old Church Slavonic is rarely referred by Macedonians as Old Macedonian, but is referred as Old Slavic.

Greek terminology

Ethnic Macedonian terminology

  • Macedonia (Македонија) can interchangeably refer to either the region of Macedonia or the Republic of Macedonia.
  • Aegean Macedonia (Егејска Македонија — Egejska Makedonija) refers to Macedonia in Greece (as defined by the administrative division of Greece).
  • Pirin Macedonia (Пиринска Македонија — Pirinska Makedonija) refers to the Blagoevgrad Province of Bulgaria (as defined by the administrative division of Bulgaria).
  • Macedonians (Македонци) generally refers to the Macedonian ethnic group associated with the Republic of Macedonia, neighbouring countries and abroad
  • Old Macedonian (Старомакедонски) is one of the names Macedonians give to the Ancient Macedonian language.
  • Egejci (Егејци) is а term sometimes used to refer to people living in the Republic of Macedonia and abroad that are originating from the Aegean Macedonia (today’s Greece)
  • Bugarashi (Бугараши) and Bugarofili (Бугарофили) are derogatory terms used to refer to people in the Republic of Macedonia self-identifying as Bulgarian, or having a pro-Bulgarian orientation.
  • Grkomani (Гркомани) is a derogatory term used to refer to the largest portion of the Slavic-speaking minority of Macedonia in Greece who self-identify as Greeks.
  • Srbomani (Србомани) is a derogatory term used to refer to people in the Republic of Macedonia self-identifying as Serbian, or having a pro-Serb orientation.

Notes

n-* During the Greek Civil War, the Greek Ministry of Press and Information published a book entitled I Enandion tis Ellados Epivoulis ("Designs on Greece"), which consists of translated documents and speeches, many from Yugolsav officials on Macedonia. It reports Josip Broz Tito using the term Aegean Macedonia on the 11th October, 1945 in the build up to the Greek Civil War. The book quotes Yugoslav sources and claims that the “new term, Aegean Macedonia”, (also “Pirin Macedonia”), was introduced as part of the Yugoslav offensive against Greece, laying claim to Greek Macedonia. The 1945 date concurs with Bulgarian sources. The name "Aegean Macedonia" is considered by some Greeks offensive when used to refer to northern Greek region of Macedonia as it can be used by irredentist organizations in the Republic of Macedonia who support a United Macedonia, contrary to the desires of the people living in the area.

n-* Despite a history of use by Bulgarian nationalists, the term "Pirin Macedonia" is today regarded as offensive by certain Bulgarians, who assert that it is widely used by Macedonists as part of the irredentist concept of United Macedonia. However, many people in the country also think of the name as a purely geographical term, which it has historically been. Its use is, thus, controversial.

n-* The constitutional name of the country "Republic of Macedonia" and the short name "Macedonia" when referring to the country, can be considered offensive by most Greeks and Macedonians in Greece. The official reasons for this, as described by the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs, are:

"The choice of the name Macedonia by FYROM directly raises the issue of usurpation of the cultural heritage of a neighbouring country. The name constitutes the basis for staking an exclusive rights claim over the entire geographical area of Macedonia. More specifically, to call only the Slavo-Macedonians Macedonians monopolizes the name for the Slavo-Macedonians and creates semiological confusion, whilst violating the human rights and the right to self-determination of Greek Macedonians. The use of the name by FYROM alone may also create problems in the trade area, and subsequently become a potential springboard for distorting reality, and a basis for activities far removed from the standards set by the European Union and more specifically the clause on good neighbourly relations. The best example of this is to be seen in the content of school textbooks in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia."

n-* The abbreviated term "fYRoM" or "FYROM" can be considered offensive when used to refer to the Republic of Macedonia. The spellout of the term, the "former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia", is not necessarily considered offensive, but some ethnic Macedonians may still find it offensive due to their right of self-identification being ignored. The term can also be offensive for Greeks under certain contexts, since it contains the word Macedonia.

n-* Although acceptable in the past, current use of the name "Slavomacedonian" in reference to both the ethnic group and the language can be considered pejorative and offensive by some ethnic Macedonians. The Greek Helsinki Monitor reports:

"... the term Slavomacedonian was introduced and was accepted by the community itself, which at the time had a much more widespread non-Greek Macedonian ethnic consciousness. Unfortunately, according to members of the community, this term was later used by the Greek authorities in a pejorative, discriminatory way; hence the reluctance if not hostility of modern-day Macedonians of Greece (i.e. people with a Macedonian national identity) to accept it."

References

Further reading

  • Eugene N. Borza: Before Alexander: constructing early Macedonia. Claremont, CA: Regina Books, 1999. Pp. 89. ISBN 0-941690-96-0 (pb)
  • Robin Lane Fox, Alexander the Great, Penguin Books, 1973, ISBN 0140088784 (pb).
  • Nicholas G. L. Hammond, The Macedonian State, Oxford University Press, 1989, ISBN 0198148836. Pg. 12-13.

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This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the "Macedonia (terminology)".

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