MACEDONIAN: a language of Macedonia

The following is the entry for this language as it appeared in the 14th edition (2000).
It was superseded by the corresponding entry in the 15th edition (2005). See also the corresponding entry in the current edition of Ethnologue.

SIL code: MKJ

ISO 639-1: mk

ISO 639-2(B): mac

ISO 639-2(T): mkd

Population	1,386,000 in Macedonia (1986). Population total all countries 2,000,000 (1999 WA).
Region	The northern dialect is in Kumanovo-Kratovo region; the southeastern dialect around Gevgelija, Strumica, and Lake Dojran; the western dialect has one subdialect in the Veles, Prilep, Kichevo, and Bitola region, and another in the Debar-Galchnik region. Also spoken in Albania, Bulgaria, Canada, Greece, Hungary, Slovenia.
Alternate names	MAKEDONSKI, SLAVIC, MACEDONIAN SLAVIC
Dialects	NORTHERN MACEDONIAN, SOUTHEASTERN MACEDONIAN, WESTERN MACEDONIAN.
Classification	Indo-European, Slavic, South, Eastern.
Comments	The standard dialect was recognized in 1944. Sociopolitical attitudes are strong: called 'Slavic' in Greece, considered to be a dialect of Bulgarian by some in Bulgaria. National language. Grammar. Newspapers, radio programs. Bible 1990.

Also spoken in:

Albania

Language name	MACEDONIAN
Population	30,000 in Albania (1993 Johnstone).
Alternate names	SLAVIC, MACEDONIAN SLAVIC
Comments	Called 'Slavic' in Greece. Bible 1990. See main entry under Macedonia.

Bulgaria

Language name	MACEDONIAN
Comments	Bible 1990. See main entry under Macedonia.

Greece

Language name	SLAVIC
Population	41,017 mother tongue speakers in Greece, 0.537% of the population (1951 census).
Alternate names	MACEDONIAN SLAVIC, MACEDONIAN
Comments	Speakers are bilingual in Greek, which is used for education and religion. Called 'Slavic' in Greece, where 'Macedonian' refers only to people living in Macedonia, a region in Greece. Bible 1990. See main entry under Macedonia.