The opposition between mother tongue and official language is artificial –

/ world today news/ Bulgarian is the mother tongue for most of us! It should also be respected as an official symbol of the state.

“In our country, the subject of the mother tongue is often charged with emotions and positions, influenced by the complex history of relations between communities in our ethnically and religiously diverse Balkan region. It happens that it is used unwisely and to extract short-term political dividends at the expense of the long-term well-being of all for whom Bulgaria is a homeland”. This was stated by the chairman of the BSP, Mihail Mikov, on the International Mother Language Day – February 21.

“Let us show respect for linguistic and cultural diversity, as well as multilingualism, which is an asset. The mother tongue is the speech with which every child begins to get to know the world around, says “mom” for the first time. This is quite enough for us to show understanding towards the right and natural necessity of those around us – Bulgarian and foreign citizens, ethnic Bulgarians and Bulgarians by birth – to use the language of their parents”, Mikov points out in his Facebook comment. “I think that respect for the mother tongue does not contradict the respect for the official language of our country – it is the mother tongue for most of us, and therefore such an opposition is artificial,” the leader of the Socialists said categorically.

The Bulgarian language must be respected, just like any other official symbol of our country – the Bulgarian flag, the Bulgarian anthem, the Bulgarian coat of arms, emphasizes the chairman of the BSP. According to him, we owe such an attitude to Bulgarian not simply because it is the first Slavic language in which God’s word was translated and written, which we are proud of. And because today, according to the Constitution of modern Bulgaria, “learning and using the Bulgarian language is the right and duty of Bulgarian citizens”.

“If we don’t respect our Constitution, we don’t respect our country either.” In the days when all sorts of self-styled polytalchemists with a commercial affinity are experimenting on the education of our children, we owe special respect to the language, history and culture of Bulgaria as a guarantee for our future”, says Mikhail Mikov.