The Scientific Thought of Misirkov: A Projection for the Scholarly Research Work at the Macedonian Language Institute

In the development of every language, key figures emerge who are remembered for their contribution and recognized through the written word they left behind. When it comes to the Macedonian language, among the many of names that have appeared throughout history, one stands out in particular— Krste Petkov Misirkov (1874–1926). He represents a vital link between his predecessors of the nineteenth century and the future Macedonians of the twentieth century. With his seminal work “On Macedonian Affairs”, publishedat the beginning of the twentieth century (Sofia, 1903), Misirkov established the framework for the codified Macedonian language. His scientific thought also served as the driving force behind the creation of the first scholarly journal in the Macedonian language, “Vardar” (Odesa, 1905). In contrast, this year marks seven decades of scholarly research conducted within the Institute for the Macedonian Language “Krste Misirkov”—the only scientific institution in Macedonia founded exclusively for research on the Macedonian language. The aim of this paper is to connect Misirkov’s scientific ideas with the activities of the Institute, which continues to embody his guiding principles throughout its seven decades of existence.