Macedonian Linguistic Geography – A Change of Milestones? On a new edition: Makedonski dijalekten atlas: od riznicata na kartotekata – leksički materijali [Macedonian Dialect Atlas: From the Treasures of the Card Index – Lexical Materials]. Skopje: Institute of Macedonian Language 'Krste Misirkov', Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts – Research Center for Areal Linguistics 'Božidar Vidoeski', 2024. 246 p. (Skopje: Vincent-grafika). ISBN 978-608-220-090-3 (IMJ), ISBN 978-608-203-392-1 (MANU)

Abstract

The article reviews the “Macedonian Dialect Atlas: From the Treasures of the Card Index – Lexical Materials” (Skopje, 2024), praising its lexical content and structural compliance with international standards. However, it notes methodological changes from the 2008 “Prolegomena” that require future theoretical justification. Key changes include abandoning generalized transcription and Proto-Slavic reconstructions, using exclusively Macedonian Cyrillic instead of a Latin-Cyrillic combination, and reducing cartography to colored geometric figures – dropping isoglosses, hatching, and labels. This reduces linguistic informativeness and highlights data gaps rather than resolving them.

Inconsistencies are noted in generalizing phonetic and derivational variants. The atlas also lacks key data on survey points and informants (fieldworker names, fieldwork dates, demographic and ethnographic details), departing from established international practice. The cross-border nature is problematic: although the territory covers the entire geographic region of Macedonia, data from points in Greece and Bulgaria are significantly incomplete, with negative prospects for completion. Future volumes should clarify ethnolinguistic and demographic realities, including linguistic identities and self-determination.

Despite criticism, the empirical material – especially for the Republic of North Macedonia – is of high quality, and the book merits maximal use in research and education. To complete the Macedonian Dialect Atlas project to international standards, the article calls for continuous funding, greater editorial accuracy, and a methodological synthesis between old and new approaches, rather than simply abandoning previous solutions.

Received 23 March 2026

Revised 24 April 2026

Accepted 30 April 2026

For citation: Sobolev, A. N., 2026. Macedonian Linguistic Geography – A Change of Milestones? On a new edition: Makedonski dijalekten atlas: od riznicata na kartotekata – leksički materijali [Macedonian Dialect Atlas: From the Treasures of the Card Index – Lexical Materials]. Skopje: Institute of Macedonian Language 'Krste Misirkov', Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts – Research Center for Areal Linguistics 'Božidar Vidoeski', 2024. 246 p. (Skopje: Vincent-grafika). ISBN 978-608-220-090-3 (IMJ), ISBN 978-608-203-392-1 (MANU). Slavic World in the Third Millennium, 21 (1–2), pp. 367–379. https://doi.org/10.31168/2412-6446.2026.21.1-2.22