Macedonia (terminology)
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{{dablink|This article discusses the use of the name Macedonia and its derivatives. For links to specific uses of the term, see [[Macedonia]].}}
{{Macedonia intro}}
The definition of '''Macedonia''' is a major source of confusion and debate due to the overlapping use of the term to describe geographical, political and historical areas, languages and peoples. Ethnic groups inhabiting the area use different terminology for the same entity, or the same terminology for different entities, which is often confusing to other inhabitants of the region and foreigners alike.
[[#In history|Historically]], the region has presented markedly shifting borders across the [[Balkans|Balkan]] peninsula. [[#In geography|Geographically]], no single definition of its borders or the names of its subdivisions is accepted by all scholars and ethnic groups. [[#In demographics|Demographically]], it is mainly inhabited by four ethnic groups, three of which self-identify themselves as ''Macedonians'': one [[South Slavs|Slavic]] group, the [[Ethnic Macedonians]], a [[Bulgarians|Bulgarian]]<ref>[http://www.greekhelsinki.gr/pdf/cedime-se-bulgaria-macedonians.PDF Center for Documentation and Information on Minorities in Europe - Southeast Europe (CEDIME-SE) - Macedonians of Bulgaria]</ref> and a [[Greeks|Greek]] one. [[#In linguistics|Linguistically]], the names and origins of the languages and dialects spoken in the region are a source of controversy. [[#In politics|Politically]], the rights to the extent of the use of the name ''Macedonia'' and its derivatives has led to a [[Macedonia naming dispute|diplomatic dispute]] between [[Greece]] and the [[Republic of Macedonia]]. Despite mediation of the [[United Nations]], the dispute is still pending resolution.
== Etymology ==
There are a number of theories regarding the etymology of the name '''Macedonia'''.
=== Mythological personage ===
{{main|Makednos}}
According to ancient [[Greek mythology]], [[Makednos]] was a grandson of Deucalion and son to Aeolus([[Hesiod]]) or a grandson of Hellen ([[Hellanicus]]). He gave his name to the tribes of the Macedonians, a group of tribes that occupied and settled parts of what is nowadays considered western, southern and central Macedonia and founded the kingdoms of [[Macedon]].
=== Homeric "makednos" ===
[[Homer]] uses the adjective '''{{Polytonic|μακεδνός}}''' ''makednós'', translated as "tall", to describe a poplar tree,<ref>[http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0135&layout=&loc=7.106 Odyssey VII 106]</ref> and which the grammarian [[Hesychius of Alexandria]] records as a [[Doric Greek|Doric]] word meaning "large" or "heavenly".<ref>[[LSJ]], ''s.v.''</ref> It has been suggested that both the Macedonians (''Makedónes'') and their ''Makednoí'' tribal ancestors were regarded as tall people, hence their name.<ref>{{cite book| first= N. G. L. |last=Hammond |title= Classical Review, New Ser., Vol. 12, No. 3 | year= Dec., 1962| pages=pp. 270–271}}</ref>
=== Makednoi ===
According to [[Herodotus]], the ''Makednoí'' were a hellenic tribe that occupied and settled the country that they named Macedonia. Those Macedonians that still chose to migrate south and later invaded Peloponnesus were renamed to [[Dorians]],<ref name=herod>{{cite web| url=http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0004%3Aid%3Dmacedonians | title= Perseus encyclopedia | work= [[Herodotus]], [[The Histories of Herodotus|The Histories]] 1.56, 8.43 | language= Ancient Greek & English translation | accessmonthday = August, 3| accessyear=2006 }}</ref> one of the principal ancient Greek tribes.
=== Highland and highlanders ===
Another plausible translation of the adjective "makednos" would be ''high''. According to the [[World Book|World Book Encyclopedia]], the Macedonians may have aquired their name because of their mountainous origin. The [[Online Etymology Dictionary]] quoting [[Ernest Klein]]'s etymological dictionary<ref name= EKlein>{{citebook|title=A Comprehensive Etymological Dictionary of the English Language|first= Dr. Ernest|last= Klein|publisher= Amsterdam, London, New York: Elsevier Publishing Company, Vol. II L - Z|year=1967|page=p 919, Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 65-13229}}</ref> summarizes these theories as:
{{quotation|From Gk. ''Makedones'', lit. "highlanders" or "the tall ones," related to ''makednos'' "long, tall," ''makros'' "long, large".<ref name=OEDHarper>{{cite web| url=http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=Macedonia | title= Online Etymology Dictionary | work= Macedonia | publisher= © November 2001 Douglas Harper | accessmonthday = June, 20| accessyear=2007}}</ref>}}
There would appear to be a synonymy among the names of different tribes living in the region, since a likely interpretation of the names of the [[Dorians]] and the [[Bryges]] also is "highlanders". All the previous names are considered to be of [[Indo-European language|Indo-European]] origin, the root of ''makednos'' being *māk-, "long, thin", which becomes "long, large" in Greek.<ref>{{cite web|work=The American Heritage Dictionary: Appendix I: Indo-European Roots|title=*māk-|date=2004|url=http://www.bartleby.com/61/roots/IE294.html|accessdate=2007-12-22}}</ref> The syllables beyond *māk- are not a compound resulting from the process of production, but are an inherited extension of unknown prehistoric origin; in this case, *-dno-.<ref>{{cite book|first=J.B.|last=Hoffman|title=Etymologischen Wörterbuch des Griechischen|publisher=Verlag von R. Oldenbourg|location=München|date=1950|pages=under Μακρός}}</ref>
== In history ==
{{Historical Macedonia}}
The [[Macedonia (region)|region of Macedonia]] has been home or a part to several historical political entities, even before the invasion of the Macedonians from the south, as is attested by Herodot; Many non-Hellenic tribes occupied its lands before and after the formation of the first Macedonian kingdoms. The borders of each of these entities were different as well as those of any kingdom or province that through the ages shared this name. The area occupied by ancient [[Macedon]], the kingdom formed by the Argead Macedonians, at its greatest extent, approximately coincided with [[Macedonia (Greece)|contemporary Macedonia in Greece]].<ref>{{cite book| first=Robin | last= Lane Fox| title= Alessandro Magno| location=Turin | publisher= Einaudi |year= 2004|pages= pp. 17–21}}</ref>
=== In early history ===
: ''Main articles: [[Macedonia (region)#History|History of the region of Macedonia]] and [[Macedon]]''
A common misconception about the ancient Macedonians is the fact that they were but a single tribe. They actually comprised a number of tribes, each with its own king and ruling class. What was called [[Macedon|kingdom of Macedon]] was actually the lands occupied by one of these tribes, the Argeads and ruled by the most famous Macedonian kings, the Temenids. These eventually achieved dominance over most Macedonian kingdoms with Philip II and his heir Alexander III. Until then, the Argeads' rule did not usually incorporate upland areas, like [[Lyncestis]]. Under [[Philip II of Macedon]], Macedonia expanded markedly, growing to include [[Chalcidice]], parts of Thrace, most Macedonian kingdoms and tribute was extracted by many of the barbarians of the north, like the Paeones and the Agrianes; Philip managed to achieve hegemony over Hellas and was hailed as General of all Greece. After his assassination, his son [[Alexander the Great]] led his armies into the vast Persian Empire and Macedon, within a few decades, expanded to an [[Hellenic Empire|Empire]], occupying a huge stretch of lands including the Balcan peninsula up and beyond Istros, the Greek name of the river Danube, the Asian dominions of the Achemenids, Egypt and parts of India and Arabia Deserta. After his death, his empire was contested by his generals and after long wars it was divided into kingdoms that lasted for centuries, initiating what is called the Hellenistic era. Of these kingdoms, Macedonia was not the largest nor the most powerful. After the Roman conquest following the [[Macedonian Wars]], the Roman Senate established a province of Macedonia, which, through the centuries, comprised different lands. Under the Byzantines, the [[theme (Byzantine administrative unit)|theme]] of Macedonia was much further to the east, in what would in the past be called Thrace, excluding even Thessalonica. The [[Ottoman Empire]] did not include an administrative region by the name of Macedonia.
Historical political entities which have used the name ''Macedonia'' were:
* [[Macedon]], the ancient [[monarchy|kingdom]], existed in the northernmost part of [[ancient Greece]], bordering the kingdom of [[Epirus (region)|Epirus]] on the west and the region of [[Thrace]] to the east. The first Macedonian state emerged in the [[8th century BC|8th]] or early 7th century BCE. Prior to his death in 323 BCE, the Macedon kingdom's most notable ruler [[Alexander the Great]] conquered most of the land in southwestern Asia stretching from what is currently Turkey in the west to parts of India in the east. The kingdom lasted until the Romans divided it into four republics in 168 BCE.<ref>Rostovtseff, ''History of the Ancient World'', ii, 78.</ref>
* The Romans had two different entities called ''Macedonia'', at different levels:
** [[Macedonia (Roman province)|Macedonia]] was established as a [[Roman province]] in 146 BC Its boundaries were shifted from time to time for administrative convenience, but it usually extended west to the Adriatic. [[Diocletian]] divided it into ''Macedonia prima'' and ''Macedonia salutaris''.
** [[Diocese of Macedonia|Macedonia]], was a [[Roman province#List of Roman Provinces - 300 to 476|late Roman diocese]], organized some time around 300; authorities differ, but it certainly existed under [[Constantine I|Constantine]]. In addition to the two Macedonian provinces, it included [[Epirus vetus]], [[Epirus nova]], [[Thessaly]], [[Achaea (Roman province)|Achaea]], and [[History of Crete#Classical, Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine Crete|Crete]] - almost all of modern Greece and the present Republic, as well as much of Albania. Both the diocese and the provinces ceased to function as administrative units when the late Roman Empire lost control of the Balkans around 600 or 700.
* [[Macedonia (Byzantine theme)|Macedonia]], during the [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantine]] period, was a new [[theme (Byzantine administrative unit)|theme]] organised by [[Empress Irene]], out of the [[Theme of Strymon]], stretching of [[Adrianople]] and the [[Evros Prefecture|Evros]] valley east along the [[Sea of Marmara]] (ancient Macedon was the [[Theme of Thessalonica]]). [[John I Tzimisces]] replaced this with a [[ducate of Adrianople]], which included much of his Bulgarian conquests.
** ''Themes'' were not named geographically: the original sense was "army"; they became districts during the military and fiscal crisis of the seventh century, when the Byzantine armies were instructed to find their supplies from the locals, wherever they happened to be. Thus the [[Armeniac theme]] was considerably west of [[Armenia]]; the [[Thracesian theme]] was in Asia Minor, not in [[Thrace]].<ref>Warren Treadgold, ''A History of the Byzantine State and society'' (1997), pp. 421, 478, ''et passim''.</ref>
** The [[Macedonian dynasty]] of the Byzantine Empire acquired its name from its founder, [[Basil I]] the Macedonian; he was born in this theme of Macedonia. His ancestry is disputed; contemporary accounts call him an [[Armenians|Armenian]] by descent.
* The Ottomans held Macedonia for five centuries; they did not keep Macedonia as an [[Subdivisions of the Ottoman Empire|administrative unit]]. The region of European Turkey lying between [[Thessaly]] and [[Serbia]] continued to be called Macedonia, however. In 1904, when most of it was placed under international administration, it contained the districts of [[Thessaloniki|Salonica]], [[Bitola|Monastir]], [[Skopje|Üsküb]], [[Kosovo|Kossovo]], [[Drama, Greece|Drama]], and [[Serres, Greece|Serres]]. In 1912–3, this was divided among the Balkan states.<ref>{{cite book| first= Colin | last= Imber| title= The Ottoman Empire, 1300–1650: The structure of Power| location=Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire, UK | publisher= Palgrave Macmillan |year= 2002}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |first=Halil|last= Inalcik| title= The Ottoman Empire: The Classical Age 1300–1600 |coauthors= Translation by Norman Itzkowitz and Colin Imber | location = London | publisher= Weidenfeld & Nicolson |year= 1973}}</ref><ref> {{cite book|first=Donald Edgar| last=Pitcher| title= An Historical Geography of the Ottoman Empire | location=Leiden, Netherlands | publisher= E.J.Brill | year= 1972}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last = Miller|first= William|title= The Ottoman empire and its successors|location = Cambridge [Eng.]|publisher = The University Press|year = 1936}} pp. 9, 447–9</ref>
The ancient Christian sect, the [[Macedonians (religious group)|Macedonians]], derived their name from their founder, Bishop [[Macedonius I of Constantinople]], not from any political or geographical region of Macedonia.
=== In modern history ===
{{main|History of modern Macedonia}}
Since the early stages of the [[Greek Revolution]], the provisional government of Greece claimed Macedonia as part of Greek national territory, but the [[Treaty of Constantinople (1832)]], which established a Greek independent state, set its northern boundary between [[Arta, Greece|Arta]] and [[Volos]].<ref> {{cite book| first=John | last= Comstock| title= History of the Greek Revolution complied from official documents of the Greek Government... and other authentic sources| location= New York |year= 1829}} p.5</ref>
When the [[Ottoman Empire]] started breaking apart, ''Macedonia'' was claimed by all members of the [[Balkan League]] ([[Serbia]], [[Montenegro]], [[Greece]] and [[Bulgaria]]), and by [[Romania]]. Under the [[Treaty of San Stefano]] that ended the [[Russo-Turkish War, 1877–78]] the entire region, except Thessaloniki, was included in the borders of [[Bulgaria]], but after the [[Congress of Berlin]] in 1878 the region was returned to the [[Ottoman Empire]]. The armies of the Balkan League advanced and occupied ''Macedonia'' in the [[First Balkan War]] in 1912. Because of disagreements between the allies about the partition of the region, the [[Second Balkan War]] erupted, and in its aftermath the arbitrary region of ''Macedonia'' was split into definite borders. The political entities that existed or still exist in this region, under the name ''Macedonia'' are:
* [[Macedonia (Greece)|Macedonia]] (as a region of Greece) refers to a region of three [[Peripheries of Greece|peripheries]] in [[northern Greece]], incorporated in 1913, as a result of the [[Balkan Wars]], between the [[Ottoman Empire]] and the [[Balkan League]].<ref name=poulton>{{cite book | first=Hugh | last=Poulton | year=2000 | title=Who Are the Macedonians? | publisher=Indiana University Press | id=ISBN 0-253-21359-2 | pages=85–86 | chapter=Greece |url=http://books.google.com/books?ie=UTF-8&hl=en&id=8_zeaeTOz6YC&pg=PA85&lpg=PA85&dq=85&prev=http://books.google.com/books%3Fq%3D%2522Who%2Bare%2Bthe%2BMacedonians%2522%2BPoulton&sig=NobKDU7Unvc2AqCZLCn0vSM5VIo }}</ref>
* [[People's Republic of Macedonia|Macedonia]] (as a [[People's Republic]] within [[Yugoslavia]]) used to refer to the [[People's Republic of Macedonia]] established in 1946, later known as the Socialist Republic of Macedonia, one of the constituent republics of the [[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia]], renamed in 1963.<ref name=LOC> {{loc}} {{cite web| url=http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/yutoc.html | title= The Library of Congress, Country Studies | work=Yugoslavia | accessmonthday = [[July 17]] | accessyear= 2006 }}</ref>
* [[Republic of Macedonia|Macedonia]] (as a contemporary [[sovereign state]]) refers<sup><span style="color:#00f">N-</span></sup>{{Ref label|offensive3|3|a}} to the conventional short form name of the [[Republic of Macedonia]], which held a referendum and established its independence from [[Yugoslavia]] on [[September 8]], [[1991]].<ref name= mkconst>{{cite web| url=http://www.oefre.unibe.ch/law/icl/mk00000_.html | title=International Constitutional Law | work= Macedonia — Constitution |accessmonthday = [[July 20]] | accessyear=2006 |language= English translation}}</ref>
== In geography ==
[[Macedonia (region)|Macedonia]] (as a current geographical term) refers to a region of the [[Balkan peninsula]] in [[south-eastern Europe]], covering some 60,000 or 70,000 square kilometers. 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]] (''Aliákmonas''), [[Vardar|Vardar / Axios]] and [[Struma River|Struma / Strymónas]] rivers, and the plains around [[Thessaloniki]] and [[Serres, Greece|Serres]].
[[Image:85mapmacedonia.jpg|thumb|340px|French geographical map of the wider [[Macedonia (region)]] as seen by Bianconi, 1885. Most other maps of that period have similar borders, differing slightly from each other; a few maps restrict the region to its southern part. [http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/9e/85mapmacedonia.jpg Enlarge].]]
In a [[Historical regions of the Balkan Peninsula|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 five centuries, ''Macedonia'' was not an administrative division of the [[Ottoman Empire]].<ref name= mccarthy1> [[Justin McCarthy (American historian)|McCarthy, J.]] (2001) ''The Ottoman Peoples and the End of Empire'', Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-340-70657-0</ref> H.R. Wilkinson, the geographer, suggests that the region "defies definition", but that many mappers agree "on its general location".<ref name= wilkinson>{{cite book | last = Wilkinson| first =H. R.| title = Maps and Politics; a review of the ethnographic cartography of Macedonia| url = http://worldcatlibraries.org/wcpa/oclc/244268?tab=holdings| year = 1951| publisher = Liverpool University Press| location = Liverpool | id= {{LCC|DR701.M3|W5}} | pages =''(a)'' p.1, ''(b)'' pp. 2–4,99, 121ff, ''(c)'' p.120, ''(d)'' pp.4,99, 137 ''(e)'' pp. 2,4}}</ref> Macedonia was well enough defined in 1897 for [[William Ewart Gladstone|Gladstone]] to propose "Macedonia for the Macedonians", implying all the inhabitants of the region, irrespective of their ethnicity.<ref name=oxford1>Oxford English Dictionary Unabridged — Draft Revision (Mar. 2005) — "Macedonian"</ref> The Balkan nations began to proclaim their rights to it after the [[Treaty of San Stefano]] in 1878 and its revision at the [[Congress of Berlin]].
Many [[ethnographic]] maps were produced in this period of controversy; these differ primarily in the areas given to each nationality within Macedonia. This was in part a result of the choice of definition: an inhabitant of Macedonia might well have different nationalities depending on whether the basis of classification was [[religious denomination|denomination]], [[kinship and descent|descent]], [[language]], [[self-identification]] or personal choice. In addition, the Ottoman census, taken on the basis of [[religion]], was misquoted by all sides; descent, or "[[Race (classification of human beings)|race]]", was largely conjectural; inhabitants of Macedonia might speak a different language at the market and at home, and the same Slavic dialect might be called Serbian "with Bulgarian influences", Macedonian, or West-Bulgarian.
These maps would also differ somewhat in the boundaries given to Macedonia. Its only inarguable limits were the [[Aegean Sea]] and the Serbian and Bulgarian frontiers (as of 1885); where it bordered on Old Serbia, Albania, and Thrace (all parts of Ottoman [[Rumelia]]) was debatable.<ref name= wilkinson />
The Greek ethnographer Nicolaides, the Austrian Meinhard, and the Bulgarian Kǎnčev accepted the [[Šar Mountain]]s and the [[Skopska Crna Gora|Crna hills]]; as had scholars before 1878.<ref name= wilkinson /> The Serb Gopčevič preferred a line much further south, assigning the entire region from [[Skopje]] to [[Strumica]] to "Old Serbia"; and some later Greek geographers have agreed to a more restricted Macedonia.<ref name= wilkinson /> In addition, maps might vary in smaller details: as to whether this town or that was Macedonian. One Italian map included [[Prizren]], where Nicolaides and Meinhard had drawn the boundary just south of it. On the south and west, [[Grevena]], [[Korçë]], and [[Konitsa]] varied from map to map; on the east, the usual line is the lower [[Mesta River|Mesta / Nestos]] river and then north or northwest, but one German geographer takes the line so far west as to exclude [[Bansko]] and [[Gotse Delchev (town)|Nevrokop / Gotse Delchev]].<ref name = wilkinson />
=== Subregions ===
{{Geographical Macedonia}}
The [[Macedonia (region)|region of Macedonia]] is commonly divided into three major and two minor sub-regions.<ref name=danforth>Danforth, L. M. (1997) ''The Macedonian Conflict: Ethnic Nationalism in a Transnational World'', Princeton University Press, ISBN 0-691-04356-6, p.44</ref> The name ''Macedonia'' appears under certain contexts on the major regions, while the smaller ones are traditionally referred to by other local [[toponyms]]:
==== Major ====
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 they are also used in [[Macedonians (ethnic group)|ethnic Macedonian]] literature of an [[irredentist]] nature:<ref name= mymk>{{cite web |url=http://www.mymacedonia.net/aegean/aegean.htm | title=myMacedonia.net | accessmonthday = [[July 22]] | accessyear=2006}}</ref>
* ''[[Aegean Macedonia]]''<sup><span style="color:#00f">N-</span></sup>{{Ref label|offensive1|1|a}} (or [[Macedonia (Greece)|Greek Macedonia]]) is a term that refers to an area in the south of the Macedonia region. The borders of the area are, overall, those of ancient [[Macedonia (Greece)|Macedonia]] in [[Greece]]. It covers an area of 34,200 km²<ref name= brit-gr>{{cite web| url=http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9049698 |title= Encyclopædia Britannica | year= 2006 | work=Macedonia |accessmonthday = [[July 21]] |accessyear=2006}}</ref> (for discussion of the reported irredentist origin of this term, see [[Aegean Macedonia]]).
* ''[[Pirin Macedonia]]''<sup><span style="color:#00f">N-</span></sup>{{ref label|Pirin|2|a}} (or [[Bulgarian Macedonia]]) is an area in the east of the Macedonia region. The borders of the area approximately coincide with those of [[Blagoevgrad Province]] in [[Bulgaria]].<ref name=danforth /> It covers an area of 6,449 km².<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.bl.government.bg/bl/index.html| title= Official site: District of Blagoevgrad | accessmonthday = [[July 21]] | accessyear= 2006}}</ref>
* ''[[Vardar Macedonia]]'' (formerly [[Yugoslav Macedonia]]) is an area in the north of the Macedonia region. The borders of the area are those of the [[Republic of Macedonia]].<ref name= danforth /> It covers an area of 25,333 km².<ref name= cia-mk>{{cite web| url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/mk.html|title= CIA — The World Factbook|work= Macedonia|accessmonthday = [[July 18]]|accessyear=2006}}</ref>
==== Minor ====
In addition to the above named sub-regions, there are also two smaller regions, in [[Albania]] and [[Serbia]] respectively. These regions are also considered geographically part of Macedonia. They are referred to by [[Macedonians (ethnic group)|ethnic Macedonians]] as follows,<ref name= mymk /> but typically aren't referred to by non-partisan scholars.
[[Mala Prespa and Golo Bardo]] is a small area in the west of the Macedonia region in [[Albania]], mainly around the [[Lake Ohrid]]. It includes parts of the [[Korçë]], [[Pogradec]] and [[Devoll]] districts. These districts in whole occupy about 3,000 km², but the area concerned is significantly smaller.
[[Gora (region)|Gora]] and [[Prohor Pchinski]] are minor parts in the north of the Macedonia region in [[Serbia]]. They roughly correspond to the Serbian municipality of [[Dragaš (town)|Dragaš]] (435 km²) and the monastery of [[Prohor Pčinjski]].
== In demographics ==
{{main|Demographic history of Macedonia}}
The region, as defined above, has a total population of about 5 million. 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. According to the Greek arguments, the ancient Macedonians' nationality was Greek and thus, the use of the term on a national level lays claims to their history. 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|terminology by group]] section.
{| class="infobox bordered" style="width: 345px; font-size: 95%; float: right;" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0"
| height=35px; colspan="2" border="0" style="color:#fff; background:#669; font-size:larger; font-weight: bold;" align="center" | <big>Demographic Macedonia</big>
|-
| '''[[Macedonians]]''' <br/>c. 5 million || <small>All inhabitants of the region, irrespective of ethnicity</small>
|-
| [[Macedonians (ethnic group)|Macedonians]]<sup><span style="color:#00f">N-</span></sup>{{Ref label|offensive3|3|b}}<br/><small>c. 1.3 million plus diaspora</small> || <small>A contemporary ethnic group, also referred to as ''Slavomacedonians'' or ''Macedonian Slavs''<ref>{{cite web| title=MSN Encarta | work=Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia | url=http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761555941/Macedonia_Former_Yugoslav_Republic_of.html#p6| accessmonthday = [[September 9]]|accessyear=2006}}</ref><sup>, <span style="color:#00f">N-</span></sup>{{Ref label|offensive4|5|a}}</small>
|-
| Macedonians<sup><span style="color:#00f">N-</span></sup>{{Ref label|offensive3|3|c}}<br/><small>c. 2.0 million</small> || <small>Citizens of the [[Republic of Macedonia]] irrespective of ethnicity</small>
|-
| [[Macedonians (Greek)|Macedonians]]<br/><small>c. 2.6 million plus diaspora</small> || <small>A [[Greeks|Greek]] regional group, also referred to as ''Greek Macedonians'' or ''Aegean Macedonians''<sup><span style="color:#00f">N-</span></sup>{{Ref label|offensive1|1|c}}</small>
|-
| [[Ancient Macedonians|Macedonians]]<br/><small>(unknown population)</small> || <small>A group of antiquity, also referred to as ''Ancient Macedonians''.</small>
|-
| Macedonians<br/><small>c. 0.3 million</small> || <small>A [[Bulgarians|Bulgarian]] regional group,<ref name=bcb>{{cite web| url=http://www.diversitybulgaria.org/en/materials.php?sub=36| title=British Council — Bulgaria | work= Macedonians of Bulgaria | accessmonthday = [[September 11]] | accessyear=2006}}</ref> also referred to as ''[[Pirin]]ers''.</small>
|-
| [[Aromanians|Macedo-Romanians]]<br/><small>c. 0.3 million</small> || <small>An alternative name for [[Aromanians]]</small>
|}
The self-identifying [[Macedonian]]s (collectively referring to the inhabitants of the region) that inhabit or inhabited the area are:
As an [[ethnic group]], [[Macedonians (ethnic group)|Macedonians]] refers<sup><span style="color:#00f">N-</span></sup>{{Ref label|offensive3|3|d}} to the majority (64.7%, 2002) of the population of the [[Republic of Macedonia]]. Statistics for 2002 indicate the population of ethnic Macedonians within Republic of Macedonia as 1,297,981.<ref name= cia-mk /><ref name= census-mk>{{cite web| url=http://www.stat.gov.mk/pdf/kniga_13.pdf | title= State Statistical Office of the Republic of Macedonia| work= 2002 census| language=English | format=pdf | pages=p.34 |accessmonthday = [[July 21]]| accessyear=2006}}</ref> On the other hand, as a [[legal term]], it refers to all the [[citizen]]s of the Republic of Macedonia, irrespective of their ethnic or religious affiliation.<ref name= cia-mk /><!-- see 'Nationality' heading --> However, the preamble of the constitution<ref name= mkconst /> distinguishes between ''"the Macedonian people"'' and the ''"Albanians, Turks, Vlachs, Romanics and other nationalities living in the Republic of Macedonia"'', but for whom ''"full equality as citizens"'' is provided. As of 2002 the total population of the country is 2,022,547.<ref name= census-mk />
As a regional group in [[Greece]], [[Macedonians (Greek)|Macedonians]] refers to ethnic [[Greeks]] living in regions referred to as Macedonia, and particularly [[Macedonia (Greece)|Greek Macedonia]]. This group composes the vast majority of the population of the Greek region of Macedonia. The 2001 census for the total population of the Macedonia region in Greece shows 2,625,681.<ref census-gr> {{el icon}} {{cite web| url= http://www.statistics.gr/gr_tables/S1101_SAP_01_TB_DC_01_02_Y.zip | title= General Secretariat of National Statistical Service of Greece | work= 2001 census | format = zip xls | accessmonthday = [[July 21]] | accessyear= 2006}}</ref>
The same term in antiquity described the [[Ancient Macedonians|inhabitants of the kingdom of Macedon]],<ref name=oxford1 /> including their notable rulers [[Philip II of Macedon]] and [[Alexander the Great]] who self-identified as Greeks.<ref name=pomeroy1>Pomeroy, S., Burstein, S., Dolan, W., Roberts, J. (1998) ''Ancient Greece: A Political, Social, and Cultural History'', Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19-509742-4</ref>
As a regional group in [[Bulgaria]], ''Macedonians'' refers to the inhabitants of [[Bulgarian Macedonia]], who in their vast majority self-identify as [[Bulgarians]] at a national level and as ''Macedonians'' at a regional, but not ethnic level.<ref name=bcb /> As of 2001, the total population of [[Bulgarian Macedonia]] is 341,245, while the [[Macedonians (ethnic group)|ethnic Macedonians]] living in the same region are 3,117.<ref census-bg> {{bg icon}} {{cite web| url=http://www.nsi.bg/Census/Ethnos.htm | title=National Statistical Institute (of Bulgaria) | work= 2001 census | accessmonthday = August, 3 | accessyear= 2006 }}</ref> The ''Bulgarian Macedonians'' also self-identify as ''[[Pirin]]ers'' (пиринци, ''pirintsi'')<ref>{{bg icon}} {{cite web| url=http://www.digsys.com/bgnews/show_story.html?issue=90964855&media=3945184&class=8474908&story=90964856 | title=Български новини | work=Поне един ден веселие и безгрижие | accessmonthday = [[September 12]] | accessyear=2006}}</ref> to avoid confusion with the neighboring ethnic group.
[[Aromanians|Macedo-Romanians]] can be used as an alternative name for Aromanians, people living throughout the southern [[Balkans]], especially in northern [[Greece]], [[Albania]], the [[Republic of Macedonia]] and [[Bulgaria]], and as an emigrant community in [[Northern Dobruja]], [[Romania]]. According to [[Ethnologue]], their total population in all countries is 306,237.<ref name= Macedo-Romanians>{{cite web| url= http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=rup | title= Ethnologue | work= Report for Macedo-Romanian language | accessmonthday = August, 3 | accessyear=2006 }}</ref> This not very frequent appellation is the only one with the disambiguating [[portmanteau]], both within the members of the same ethnic group and the other ethnic groups in the area.<ref name= oxford4>Oxford English Dictionary Unabridged — Draft Revision (Mar. 2005) — "Macedo-"</ref> To make matters more confusing, Aromanians are often called "Machedoni" by Romanians, as opposed to the citizens of Macedonia, who are called "Macedoneni".
The ethnic [[Albanians]] living in the region of Macedonia, as defined above, are mainly concentrated in the [[Republic of Macedonia]] (especially in the northwestern part that borders [[Kosovo]] and [[Albania]]), and less in the Albanian [[#Minor parts|minor sub-region]] of Macedonia around the [[Lake Ohrid]]. As of 2002, the total population of [[Albanians in the Republic of Macedonia|Albanians within the republic]] is 509,083 or 25.2% of the country's total population.<ref name= census-mk />
<div style="clear: both"></div>
== 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. There are two main disputes about the use of the word Macedonian to describe a linguistic phenomenon, be it a [[language]] or a [[dialect]]:
{| class="infobox bordered" style="width: 345px; font-size: 95%; float: right;" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0"
| height=35px; colspan="2" border="0" style="color:#fff; background:#669; font-size:larger; font-weight: bold;" align="center" | <big>Linguistic Macedonia</big>
|-
| [[Macedonian language|Macedonian]]<sup><span style="color:#00f">N-</span></sup>{{Ref label|offensive3|3|e}} || <small>A contemporary [[Slavic language]], also referred to as ''Slavomacedonian'' or ''Macedonian Slavic''<ref>{{cite book| url= http://books.google.com/books?id=ppbuavUZKEwC&vid=ISBN1850655340&dq=&pg=PR9&lpg=PR9&sig=pQh0ojlZmc7RraIH3hHiYmxCvX4&q | title=Who Are the Macedonians?| first=Hugh |last=Poulton | pages= p. ix | publisher= C. Hurst & Co. Ltd. | location= United Kingdom |year=1995, 2000 | id=ISBN 1-85065-534-0 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title=Ethnologue | url=http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=mkd |work= Report for Macedonian language| accessmonthday = [[September 10]] | accessyear= 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=http://linguistlist.org/forms/langs/get-familyid.cfm?CFTREEITEMKEY=IELBA | title= The Linguist List | accessmonthday = [[September 10]] | accessyear=2006}}</ref><sup>, <span style="color:#00f">N-</span></sup>{{Ref label|offensive4|5|b}}</small>
|-
| [[Modern Greek#Dialects|Macedonian]] || <small>A dialect of [[Modern Greek]], typically simply referred to as ''Greek'', since its differences with the Greek spoken in the rest of Greece are only a few words, phrases and a deeper accent.</small>
|-
| [[Ancient Macedonian language|Macedonian]] || <small>A language or dialect of antiquity, possibly a dialect of ancient Greek </small>
|-
| [[Aromanian language|Macedo-Romanian]] || <small>Another name for the [[Aromanian language]]</small>
|}
The origins of the [[Ancient Macedonian language]] are currently debated. At this time it is not conclusively determined whether the language / dialect was a [[Greek dialects|Greek dialect]] related to [[Doric Greek]]<ref>{{cite book | last = Masson | first = Olivier | editor = S. Hornblower and A. Spawforth (eds.) | title = [[Oxford Classical Dictionary|The Oxford Classical Dictionary]] | origyear = 1996 | edition = revised 3rd ed. | year = 2003 | publisher = Oxford University Press | location = USA | id =ISBN 0-19-860641-9 | pages = 905–906}}</ref><ref>[[N.G.L. Hammond|Hammond, N.G.L.]] (1989), ''The Macedonian State. Origins, Institutions and History'', Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19-814927-1, pp 12–13 </ref>
and/or [[Aeolic Greek]]<ref>{{de icon}} [[Franz Heinrich Ludolf Ahrens|Ahrens, F. H. L.]] (1843), ''De Graecae linguae dialectis'', Göttingen, 1839–1843 ; Hoffmann, O. ''Die Makedonen. Ihre Sprache und ihr Volkstum'', Göttingen, 1906</ref> dialects among others, a sibling language of [[ancient Greek]] forming a ''Hellenic''<ref name="Joseph">B. Joseph (2001): "Ancient Greek". In: J. Garry et al. (eds.) ''Facts about the world's major languages: an encyclopedia of the world's major languages, past and present.'' [http://www.ling.ohio-state.edu/~bjoseph/articles/gancient.htm Online paper]</ref> (i.e. Greco-Macedonian) supergroup, or viewed as an [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] language which is a close cousin to Greek and also somewhat related to [[Thracian language|Thracian]] and [[Phrygian language|Phrygian]] languages.<ref>[[JP Mallory|Mallory, J.P.]] and Adams, D.Q. (eds.) (1997), ''Encyclopedia of Indo-European culture'', Taylor & Francis Inc., ISBN 1-884964-98-2, p.361</ref> The scientific community generally agrees that, although sources are available (e.g. [[Hesychius of Alexandria|Hesychius']] lexicon, [[Pella curse tablet]])<ref>{{fr icon}} Dubois L. (1995) ''Une tablette de malédiction de Pella: s'agit-il du premier texte macédonien ?,'' Revue des Études Grecques (REG) 108:190–197</ref> there is no decisive evidence to exclude any of the above hypothesis.<ref>{{fr icon}} Brixhe C., Panayotou A. (1994) ''Le Macédonien in: Langues indo-européennes,'' ed. Bader, Paris, pp 205–220 </ref>
The (south Slavic) [[Macedonian language]]<sup><span style="color:#00f">N-</span></sup>{{Ref label|offensive3|3|f}} is unrelated to the [[Ancient Macedonian language]]. It is currently the subject of two major disputes. The first is over the name (alternative ways of referring to this language can be found in the [[#Terminology by group|terminology by group]] section and in the article [[Macedonian language naming dispute]]). The second dispute is over the existence of a Macedonian language distinct from [[Bulgarian language|Bulgarian]], the denial of which is a position supported by nationalist groups,<ref name=lunt1986>Lunt, H. (1986) "On Macedonian Nationality" in ''[[Slavic Review]]'', Vol. 45, No. 4. pp. 729–734</ref> and also by many ordinary Bulgarians. Further information on this can be found in the [[Macedonian language]] article.
[[Modern Greek#Dialects|Macedonian]] is also the name of a dialect of [[Modern Greek]], a language of the [[Indo-European family]]. Additionally, [[Aromanian language|Macedo-Romanian]] is an [[Eastern Romance languages|Eastern Romance language]], spoken in [[Southeastern Europe]] by the [[Aromanians]].<ref name= oxford4 />
== In politics ==
{{Seealso|Macedonia naming dispute}}
The controversies in geographic, linguistic and demographic terms, are also manifested in international politics. Among the autonomous countries that were formed as a result of the break up of [[Yugoslavia]] in the 1990s, was the (until then) subnational entity of [[SFRJ]], by the official name of [[Socialist Republic of Macedonia]], the others being [[Serbia]], [[Slovenia]], [[Croatia]], [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]] and [[Montenegro]]. The peaceful break-away of that nation resulted in a necessary change for its name, to signify disassociation from federal Yugoslavia.
{{Political Macedonia}}
[[Republic of Macedonia]]<sup><span style="color:#00f">N-</span></sup>{{Ref label|offensive3|3|g}} is the constitutional name<ref name= mkconst /> of the [[sovereign state]] which occupies the northern part of the geographical region of ''Macedonia'', which roughly coincides with the geographic subregion of [[Vardar Macedonia]]. ''The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia'' (FYROM) is a term used to refer to this state by the main international organisations, including [[United Nations]],<ref name=un>{{cite web| url=http://www.un.org/documents/ga/res/47/a47r225.htm | title=United Nations | work=Admission of the State whose application is contained in document A/47/876-S/25147 to membership in the United Nations | accessmonthday = [[July 17]]| accessyear=2006}}</ref>
[[European Union]],<ref name= eu>{{cite web | url= http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/the_former_yugoslav_republic_of_macedonia/index_en.htm | title= European Union | work= European Commission, Enlargement, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia | accessmonthday = September, 5 |accessyear=2006}}</ref>
[[NATO]],<ref name=NATO>{{cite web | url= http://www.nato.int/issues/enlargement/index.html | title=NATO |work=Enlargement |accessmonthday = [[July 18]] | accessyear= 2006}}</ref>
[[International Monetary Fund|IMF]],<ref name=IMF>{{cite web | url= http://www.imf.org/external/country/MKD/index.htm| title= International Monetary Fund |work=former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and the IMF |accessmonthday = [[July 18]] | accessyear= 2006}}</ref>
[[World Trade Organization|WTO]],<ref name=WTO>{{cite web| url=http://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/countries_e/macedonia_e.htm | title= World Trade Organization | work=Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) and the WTO |accessmonthday = [[July 20]] | accessyear=2006}}</ref>
[[International Olympic Committee|IOC]],<ref name=IOC>{{cite web | title=International Olympic Committee |work=Olympic Committee of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia | url= http://www.olympic.org/uk/organisation/noc/noc_uk.asp?noc_initials=MKD|accessmonthday = [[July 18]] | accessyear= 2006}}</ref>
[[World Bank]],<ref name=WB>{{cite web | title=World Bank | work= Countries & Regions | url= http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/0,,pagePK:180619~theSitePK:136917,00.html|accessmonthday = [[July 18]] | accessyear= 2006}}</ref>
[[European Bank for Reconstruction and Development|EBRD]],<ref name=EBRD>{{cite web| title=European Bank for Reconstruction and Development | work=ebrd and fyr Macedonia | url= http://www.ebrd.com/country/country/mace/index.htm EBRD |accessmonthday = [[July 18]] | accessyear= 2006}}</ref>
[[Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe|OSCE]],<ref name=OSCE>{{cite web | title=The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe |work=Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia admitted to OSCE | url= http://www.osce.org/item/16032.html|accessmonthday = [[July 18]] | accessyear= 2006}}</ref>
[[FIFA]],<ref name=fifa>{{cite web |url= http://www.fifa.com/en/organisation/confederations/associationdetails/0,1483,MKD,00.html?countrycode=MKD| title=FIFA Organisation | work= FYR Macedonia |accessmonthday = [[July 20]]| accessyear=2006}}</ref>
and [[FIBA]].<ref name=fiba>{{cite web |url= http://www.fibaeurope.com/Default.asp?nfID=2604| title=FIBA Organisation | work= FYR Macedonia |accessmonthday = [[July 20]]| accessyear=2006}}</ref>
The term was introduced in 1993 by the [[United Nations]], following a [[Macedonia naming dispute|naming dispute with Greece]]. Some countries use this term as a stop-gap measure, pending resolution of the naming dispute.<ref> Floudas, Demetrius Andreas; {{cite web |publisher= in: Kourvetaris et al (eds.), ''The New Balkans'', East European Monographs: Columbia University Press, 2002, p. 85 |url=http://www.intersticeconsulting.com/documents/FYROM.pdf | title= "FYROM's Dispute with Greece Revisited"}} </ref>
Greece and the Republic of Macedonia each consider this name a compromise:<ref name="Accord">[http://www.hri.org/docs/fyrom/95-27866.html "Interim Accord between the Hellenic Republic and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia"], United Nations, [[13 September]] [[1995]].</ref> it is opposed by some Greeks for containing the Greek self-identifying name ''Macedonia'', and by many in the Republic of Macedonia for not being the short self-identifying name.<ref>{{cite web|last = Gatzoulis | first = B.| coauthors = Templar, M., A.| title = MACEDONIA? What's in a Name — A Rose by Any Other Name, Is It Still A Rose? | publisher = Pan-Macedonian Association USA, Inc | date = 2000 | url = http://www.panmacedonian.info/namenew.htm |accessmonthday = [[July 25]] |accessyear=2006}}</ref> Greece uses it in both the abbreviated (''FYROM'' or ''ΠΓΔΜ'')<sup><span style="color:#00f">N-</span></sup>{{ref|offensive2}} and spellout form (''πρώην Γιουγκοσλαβική Δημοκρατία της Μακεδονίας'').
[[Macedonia (Greece)|Macedonia]] refers also to a geographic [[regions of Greece|region]] in [[Greece]], which roughly coincides with the southernmost major geographic subregion of Macedonia. It is divided in the three administrative sub-regions (''[[Peripheries of Greece|peripheries]]'') of [[West Macedonia|West]], [[Central Macedonia|Central]], and [[East Macedonia]]. The region is overseen by the [[Minister for Macedonia–Thrace (Greece)|Ministry for Macedonia–Thrace]]. The capital of Greek Macedonia is [[Thessaloniki]], which is the largest city in the region of Macedonia. Thessaloniki is also the ''joint capital city'' ("συμπρωτεύουσα"-''symprotévousa'')<ref name=symprot>{{el icon}}{{cite web| url=http://www.thessalonikicity.gr/Ypiresies/Grafeio_Dimarxou/omilies/omilia-21-1-2005.htm | work=Speech by Thessaloniki Mayor Vassilis Papageorgopoulos in the protocol signing ceremony for sisterhood with [[Kolkata]], [[India]] | title= Official site of the Municipality of Thessaloniki | accessyear=2006 | accessmonthday = [[July 25]]}}</ref> of Greece, the capital being [[Athens]].
=== Ethnic Macedonian nationalism (Extreme and moderate) ===
Extremist [[Macedonians (ethnic group)|ethnic Macedonian]] [[nationalist]]s of the "[[United Macedonia]]" movement have expressed [[irredentist]] claims to what they refer to as ''"[[Greek Macedonia|Aegean Macedonia]]"'' (in [[Greece]]),<ref name="Times">Greek Macedonia "not a problem", ''The Times'' (London), [[August 5]], [[1957]]</ref><ref name="Patrides">Patrides, Greek Magazine of Toronto, September — October, 1988, p. 3.</ref><ref name="Currency">{{cite news| first=Marlise |last=Simons |title=As Republic Flexes, Greeks Tense Up |date=[[February 3]] [[1992]] |publisher=New York Times | url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0CE0DD103CF930A35751C0A964958260 }} </ref> ''"[[Pirin Macedonia]]"'' (in [[Bulgaria]]),<ref name="Bulgaria">{{cite web | last = Lenkova | first = M. | coauthors = Dimitras, P., Papanikolatos, N., Law, C. (eds) | title =Greek Helsinki Monitor: Macedonians of Bulgaria | work = Minorities in Southeast Europe | publisher =Greek Helsinki Monitor, Center for Documentation and Information on Minorities in Europe — Southeast Europe | date = 1999 | url = http://www.greekhelsinki.gr/pdf/cedime-se-bulgaria-macedonians.PDF | format = pdf | accessmonthday = [[July 24]] | accessyear=2006}}</ref> ''"[[Mala Prespa and Golo Bardo]]"'' (in [[Albania]]),<ref name="Albania">{{cite web| url= http://www.florina.org/html/2003/2003_osce_albania.html | title=Rainbow — Vinozhito political party | work=The Macedonian minority in Albania | accessmonthday = [[July 22]]| accessyear=2006}}</ref> and ''"[[Gora (region)|Gora]] and [[Prohor Pchinski]]"'' (in [[Serbia]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.makedonija.info/info.html|title=Makedonija — General Information|accessmonthday = [[July 22]]|accessyear=2006}}</ref> [[Macedonians (Greek)|Greek Macedonians]], [[Bulgarians]], [[Albanians]] and [[Serbs]] form the overwhelming majority of the population of each part of the region respectively.
[[Loring Danforth|Loring M. Danforth]], a professor of anthropology working at [[Bates College]] in the United States who has written many award winning books and articles on Republic of Macedonia, Greece, Australia and nationalism, reports:
{{clear}}
{{quotation|Extreme Macedonian nationalists, who are concerned with demonstrating the continuity between ancient and modern Macedonians, deny that they are Slavs and claim to be the direct descendants of [[Alexander the Great]] and the [[ancient Macedonians]]. The more moderate [ethnic] Macedonian position, generally adopted by better educated Macedonians and publicly endorsed by [[Kiro Gligorov]], the first president of the newly independent Republic of Macedonia, is that modern Macedonians have no relation to Alexander the Great, but are a Slavic people whose ancestors arrived in Macedonia in the sixth century AD. Proponents of both the extreme and the moderate Macedonian positions stress that the ancient Macedonians were a distinct non-Greek people.
<br><br>
In addition to affirming the existence of the Macedonian nation, Macedonians are concerned with affirming the existence of a unique Macedonian language as well. While acknowledging the similarities between Macedonian and other [[South Slavic languages]], they point to the distinctions that set it apart as a separate language. They also emphasize that although standard literary Macedonian was only formally created and recognized in 1944, the Macedonian language has a history of over a thousand years dating back to the [[Old Church Slavonic]] used by [[Saints Cyril and Methodius|Sts. Cyril and Methodius]] in the ninth century.
<br><br>
Although all Macedonians agree that Macedonian minorities exist in Bulgaria and Greece and that these minorities have been subjected to harsh policies of forced assimilation, there are two different positions with regard to what their future should be. The goal of more extreme Macedonian nationalists is to create a "[[United Macedonia|free, united, and independent Macedonia]]" by "liberating" the parts of Macedonia "temporarily occupied" by Bulgaria and Greece. More moderate Macedonian nationalists recognize the inviolability of the Bulgarian and Greek borders and explicitly renounce any territorial claims against the two countries. They do, however, demand that Bulgaria and Greece recognize the existence of Macedonian minorities in their countries and grant them the basic human rights they deserve.<ref name=Danforth>{{cite book| title=How can a woman give birth to one Greek and one Macedonian? | url= http://www.gate.net/~mango/How_can_a_woman_give_birth.htm | work=
The construction of national identity among immigrants to Australia from Northern Greece | first=
Loring M. | last= Danforth |accessdate=2006-12-26 }} Most quotations within the text are from [[Evangelos Kofos]]: "Most precious jewels" from a [[Boston Globe]] article of [[January 5]], [[1993]], the others from ''Nationalism and communism'', Thessalonica, 1964 </ref>
}}
Schoolbooks and official government publications in the Republic have shown the country as part of an "unliberated" whole,<ref>{{cite web| url=http://uranus.ee.auth.gr/new/eng/macedonia.old/kofos | title= The vision of "Greater Macedonia" | accessmonthday = [[September 14]] | accessyear=2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=http://uranus.ee.auth.gr/new/eng/macedonia.old/kofos/fig16.html | title= The vision of "Greater Macedonia" | work=Specific examples (I)| accessmonthday = [[September 14]] | accessyear=2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=http://uranus.ee.auth.gr/new/eng/macedonia.old/kofos/fig11.html | title= The vision of "Greater Macedonia" | work=Specific examples (II)| accessmonthday = [[September 14]] | accessyear=2006}}</ref><ref>''The Macedonian Times'', semi-governmental monthly periodical, Issue number 23, July-August 1996:14, Leading article: Bishop Tsarknjas</ref><ref>''Facts About the Republic of Macedonia'' - annual booklets since 1992, Skopje, Republic of Macedonia Secretariat of Information, Second edition, 1997, ISBN 9989-42-044-0. p.14. [[2 August]] [[1944]].</ref><ref>[http://www.mia.com.mk MIA (Macedonian Information Agency)], ''[http://www.google.com/search?q=cache:bV_xiNmQMRYJ:205.217.154.67/world/macedonia+MACEDONIA+MARKS+30TH+ANNIVERSARY+OF+DIMITAR+MITREV'S+DEATH&hl=en&gl=gr&ct=clnk&cd=1&lr=lang_en Macedonia marks 30th anniversary of Dimitar Mitrev's death]'', Skopje, [[February 24]] [[2006]]</ref><ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.macedonianembassy.org.uk/history.html | title= Official site of the Embassy of the Republic of Macedonia in London | work= An outline of Macedonian history from Ancient times to 1991 | accessdate=2006-12-26 }}</ref><ref name=SMS>[http://www.ems.name/Makedonismos_english.htm Society for Macedonian Studies], ''Macedonianism FYROM'S Expansionist Designs against Greece, 1944-2006'', Ephesus - Society for Macedonian Studies, 2007 ISBN 978-960-8326-30-9, Retrieved on [[2007-12-05]].</ref> although the constitution of the Republic, especially after its amendment in 1995, does not include any territorial claims.<ref name=mkconst /><ref name=Accord />
=== Greek nationalism ===
Professor Danforth describes the Greek position on Macedonia as follows:
{{quotation|
According to the Greek nationalist position on the Macedonian Question, because Alexander the Great and the ancient Macedonians were Greeks, and because ancient and modern Greece are bound in an unbroken line of racial and cultural continuity, it is only Greeks who have the right to identify themselves as Macedonians, not the Slavs of southern Yugoslavia, who settled in Macedonia in the sixth century AD and who called themselves "Bulgarians" until 1944. Greeks, therefore, generally refer to Macedonians as "Skopians", (from Skopje, the capital of the Republic of Macedonia) a practice comparable to calling Greeks "Athenians." The negation of Macedonian identity in Greek nationalist ideology focuses on three main points: the existence of a Macedonian nation, a Macedonian language, and a Macedonian minority in Greece. From the Greek nationalist perspective there cannot be a Macedonian nation since there has never been an independent Macedonian state: the Macedonian nation is an "artificial creation", an "invention", of Tito, who "baptized" a "mosaic of nationalities" with the Greek name "Macedonians".
<br><br>
Similarly Greek nationalists claim that because the language spoken by the ancient Macedonians was Greek, the Slavic language spoken by the "Skopians" cannot be called "the Macedonian language." Greek sources generally refer to it as "the linguistic idiom of Skopje" and describe it as a corrupt and impoverished dialect of Bulgarian. Finally, the Greek government denies the existence of a Macedonian minority in northern Greece, claiming that there exists only a small group of "Slavophone Hellenes" or "bilingual Greeks", who speak Greek and "a local Slavic dialect" but have a "Greek national consciousness".
<br><br>
From the Greek nationalist perspective, then, the use of the name "Macedonian" by the "Slavs of Skopje" constitutes a "felony", an "act of plagiarism" against the Greek people. By calling themselves "Macedonians" the Slavs are "stealing" a Greek name; they are "embezzling" Greek cultural heritage; they are "falsifying" Greek history. As Evangelos Kofos, a historian employed by the Greek Foreign Ministry told a foreign reporter, "It is as if a robber came into my house and stole my most precious jewels - my history, my culture, my identity". Greek fears that use of the name "Macedonia" by Slavs will inevitably lead to the assertion of irredentist claims to territory in Greek Macedonia are heightened by fairly recent historical events. During World War II Bulgaria occupied portions of northern Greece, while one of the specific goals of the founders of the People's Republic of Macedonia in 1944 was "the unification of the entire Macedonian nation", to be achieved by "the liberation of the other two segments" of Macedonia.<ref name=Danforth />
}}
Demetrius Andreas M.-A. Floudas, of [[Hughes Hall, Cambridge]], a leading commentator on the naming dispute from the Greek side, sums up the reaction thus:
{{quotation|Skopje was accused of usurping the historical and cultural patrimony of Hellas in order to furnish a nucleus of national self-esteem for the new state and provide its citizens with a new, distinct, non-Bulgarian, non-Serbian, non-Albanian identity. FYROM emerges thus to Greek eyes as a country with a personality crisis, a nondescript parasitic state that lives off the historical grandeur of its neighbours, because it lacks an illustrious past of its own, for the sake of achieving cohesion for the unhomogeneous little new nation.
<br><br>
What appeared to go unquestioned in Greece nevertheless was whether there was indeed substance in the claims of FYROM that their citizens do feel members of a distinct 'Macedonian' nationality. To answer this appropriately, neither the decades of persistent indoctrination [during Tito's time] should be left out of consideration, nor Greece's violent struggle since 1991 in contrast to her complacency for the 45 years before this. If it was a common bond that the people in Skopje wanted, they found it by claiming this name and rallying the whole population in a united resistance front under a common cause against pugnacious Greece. After this bitter and protracted struggle, even the ones in FYROM who might have not initially been infused with any distinct Macedonian ethnic identity must be feeling very Macedonian now, thanks to Greece<ref>Floudas, Demetrius Andreas; {{cite web |publisher= 24 (1996) Journal of Political and Military Sociology, 285|url=http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3719/is_199601/ai_n8752910 | title= "A Name for a Conflict or a Conflict for a Name? An Analysis of Greece's Dispute with FYROM", |accessdate=2007-01-24}}</ref>}}
As of early 2008, the official position of Greece, adopted unanimously by the four greatest political parties, has made a more moderate shift towards accepting a "composite name solution" (i.e. the use of the name "Macedonia" plus some qualifier), so as to disambiguate the former Yugoslav Republic from the Greek region of [[Macedonia (Greece)|Macedonia]] and the [[Macedonia (region)|wider geographic region of the same name]].<ref name=GrFA /><ref>{{el icon}} Skai News, [http://www.skai.gr/master_story.php?id=74017 ΠΑΣΟΚ: Βετό σε περίπτωση διπλής ονομασίας] (Machine translation: ''[http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.skai.gr%2Fmaster_story.php%3Fid%3D74017&hl=el&ie=UTF8&sl=el&tl=en PASOK: Veto in the case of dual designation]''), Retrieved on [[2008-06-03]].</ref><ref>{{el icon}} Skai News, [http://www.skai.gr/master_story.php?id=74004 KΚΕ για Κόσοβο - ΠΓΔΜ] (Machine translation: ''[http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.skai.gr%2Fmaster_story.php%3Fid%3D74004&hl=el&ie=UTF8&sl=el&tl=en KKE for Kosovo - FYROM]''), Retrieved on [[2008-06-03]].</ref>
== Names in the languages of the region ==
'''Macedonia'''
{|
| [[Albanian language|Albanian]]: || {{lang|sq|''Maqedonia''}} || || [[Greek language|Greek]]: || {{lang|el|''Μακεδονία''}} ({{lang|el-Latn|Makedhonia}}) || || [[Russian language|Russian]]: || {{lang|ru|''Македония''}} ({{lang|ru-Latn|Makedoniya}})
|-
| [[Armenian language|Armenian]]: || {{lang|hy|''Մակեդոնիա''}} ({{lang|hy-Latn|Makedonia}}) || || [[Ladino language|Ladino]]: || {{lang|lad-Latn|''Makedonia''}}, {{rtl-lang|lad-Hebr|''מקדוניה''}} || || [[Serbian language|Serbian]]: || {{lang|sr-Cyrl|''Македонија''}}, {{lang|sr-Latn|''Makedonija''}}
|-
| [[Aromanian language|Aromanian]]: || {{lang|rup|''Machidunia''/''Machedonia''}} || || [[Macedonian language|Macedonian]]: || {{lang|mk|''Македонија''}} ({{lang|mk-Latn|Makedonija}}) || || [[Turkish language|Turkish]]: || {{lang|tr|''Makedonya''}}
|-
| [[Bulgarian language|Bulgarian]]: || {{lang|bg|''Македония''}} ({{lang|bg-Latn|Makedoniya}}) || || [[Romani language|Romany]]: || {{lang|rom|''Makedoniya''}} || || [[Ukrainian language|Ukrainian]]: || {{lang|ua|''Македонія''}} ({{lang|ua-Latn|Makedoniya}})
|-
|}
<div style="clear: both"></div>
== 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 may be perceived as such by the receiving ethnic group. Both [[Greeks]] and [[Macedonians (ethnic group)|ethnic Macedonians]] generally use all terms deriving from ''Macedonia'' to describe their own regional or ethnic 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<ref name=EthMacNat> {{cite web| url= http://macedonia.cjb.net/ | title= Macedonian Info | accessmonthday = [[July 19]] | accessyear=2006}}</ref>
seek to deny the possibility of any national, linguistic and historical relatedness to the Bulgarians. On the other hand, extremist Bulgarians seek to downplay this distinctiveness,<ref name=BulgNat1> {{cite web| url=http://www.macedoniainfo.com/ | title= Macedonian Scientific Institute | accessmonthday = [[July 19]] | accessyear=2006}}</ref>
and are often supported by extremist Greeks.<ref name= LAOS>{{el icon}} {{cite web| url= http://www.e-grammes.gr/article.php?id=59 | title= Ελληνικές Γραμμές ("Hellenic Lines") | accessmonthday = [[July 17]] | accessyear=2006}}</ref>
Bulgarians and ethnic Macedonians seek to deny the self-identification of the [[Minorities in Greece#Slavic-speaking|Slavic speaking minority]] in northern Greece,<ref name = BulgNat2> {{cite web | url=http://www.geocities.com/bulgarmak/ | title = Bulgarian Human Rights in Macedonia | accessmonthday = [[July 19]] | accessyear =2006}}</ref>
which mostly self-identifies as Greek. Extremists on all sides have been known to fabricate and reproduce falsified information, along with denying genuine information and propagating unscientific and [[Sub-Saharan DNA admixture in Europe#The Arnaiz-Villena controversy|pseudoscientific theories]].<ref name= pseudo>{{cite web | last = Arnaiz-Villena | first = A. | coauthors = Dimitroski K., Pacho A. ''et al'' | title = HLA genes in Macedonians and the sub-Saharan origin of the Greeks | work = (theory considered to "lack scientific merit", see below) | publisher = Blackwell Publishing, Inc. | date = 2001 | url = http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1034/j.1399-0039.2001.057002118.x | doi = 10.1034/j.1399-0039.2001.057002118.x |accessmonthday = [[July 23]] | accessyear =2006 }}</ref><ref name= pseudoYES> {{cite journal | last= [[Luigi Luca Cavalli-Sforza|Cavalli-Sforza]] | first = Luca, L. | coauthors = Piazza A., [[Neil Risch|Risch, N.]] | title =Comment on the above theory: Dropped genetics paper lacked scientific merit | journal = Nature | issue = 415 | pages = 115 | publisher = Nature Publishing Group | date = [[10 January]] [[2002]] | url = http://www.nature.com/cgi-taf/DynaPage.taf?file=/nature/journal/v415/n6868/full/415115b_r.html | doi = 10.1038/415115b | accessdate = 2006-07-23 | volume =415}}</ref><ref name= pseudoINDEED> {{cite web |last = McKie | first = Robin | url= http://observer.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,6903,605798,00.html. | title= Article regarding above theory | work= Journal axes gene research on Jews and Palestinians | publisher = The Observer International | date = [[November 25]] [[2001]] | accessmonthday = [[July 23]] | accessyear=2006 }}</ref>
Certain terms are in use by these groups as outlined below. Any denial of self-identification by any side, or any attribution of Macedonia related terms by third parties to the other side, can be seen as highly offensive. General usage of these terms follows:
<div class="references-small">
{{MultiCol}}
=== {{flagicon|Bulgaria}} Bulgarian ===
* ''<u>Gărkomani</u>'' (Гъркомани) is a derogatory term used to refer to the largest portion of the Slavic-speaking minority of [[Macedonia (Greece)|Macedonia]] in [[Greece]] who self-identify as Greeks.<ref name= Garkomani>{{bg icon}} Giza, Antony ''The Balkan Countries and the Macedonian Question '', from: http://vmro[dot]150m.com/ag/ag_2_5.html (blocked by the spam blacklist)</ref>
* ''<u>Macedonian</u>'' (Македонец) - a person originating from the region of Macedonia - the term has only regional, not ethnical meaning, and it usually means a [[Bulgarians|Bulgarian]], or a clarification is made (Greek, Albanian...).
* ''<u>Macedonian</u>'' (Македонски) and the [[Slavic language (Greece)|Slavic dialects of Greece]] are considered [[dialect]]s of [[Bulgarian language|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, therefore, has officially recognized the language merely as ''"the constitutional language of the Republic of Macedonia"''.<ref name=bcb /><ref name= BulLang> {{cite press release | title = Article: Bulgaria recognises Macedonian language | publisher = AIMpress Sofia — Skopje | date = [[22 February]] [[2006]]| url = http://www.aimpress.ch/dyn/trae/archive/data/199902/90222-005-trae-sof.htm | accessdate = 2006-07-25}}</ref> Translations are officially called "adaptations".
* ''<u>Macedonism</u>'' (Македонизъм) is a term referring to the political ideology or simply views that the Slavs of Macedonia are an ethnic group separate from Bulgarians, with their own separate language, history and culture. It is also used to describe what Bulgarians view as the falsification of their history whether by Macedonian or foreign scholars who subscribe to the Macedonist point of view. It carries strong negative connotations.<ref name=macedonism>{{bg icon}} {{cite book | last = Dimitrov | first = Bozhidar | authorlink = Bozhidar Dimitrov | year = 2003 | title = The Ten Lies of Macedonism | publisher = Blaže Koneski | location = Strumica, Republic of Macedonia | id = ISBN 954-07-1807-4 | url = http://www.macedoniainfo.com/10_Lies_Macedonism2.htm | accessmonthday = [[July 17]] | accessyear =2006}}</ref> (see [[Macedonism]]).
* ''<u>Macedonistics</u>'' (Македонистика) is a 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]].
* ''<u>Macedonist</u>'' (Македонист) is a term for a person (typically Macedonian Slav) who believes that Macedonian Slavs are not ethnic Bulgarians but a separate ethnic group, directly descended from the ancient Macedonians. It is a more negatively charged synonym of "Macedonian nationalist". More rarely it is used for someone 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.<ref name=macedonism />
* ''<u>Old Bulgarian</u>'' (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 to by [[Macedonians (ethnic group)|Macedonians]] as ''Old Macedonian'', but is referred to as ''Old Slavic''.<ref name= OldChurchSlav>{{bg icon}} {{cite web| url=http://synpress.bglink.net/11-2002/zograf.htm | last = Todorov | first = Georgi| title= Article: The construction of "Zograf" by Stefan the Great | accessmonthday = [[July 25]] | accessyear=2006}}</ref>
{{ColBreak}}
=== {{flagicon|Greece}} Greek ===
* ''<u>Macedonia</u>'' (Μακεδονία) can refer to the [[Macedonia (region)|region of Macedonia]] or [[Macedonia (Greece)|Macedonia]] in [[Greece]] depending on the context — usually the first being disambiguated.<ref name= Meizon> {{cite book | year=1997 | title=Μείζον Ελληνικό Λεξικό ("Mízon Hellinikó Lexikó") | author=Tegopoulos, Fytrakis | pages=674, 1389 | publisher=Ekdoseis Armonia A.E. | id=ISBN 960-7598-04-0}}</ref>
* ''<u>Macedonian</u>'' (Μακεδόνας) refers to an ethnically Greek [[Macedonians (Greek)|Macedonian]].<ref name= Meizon />
* ''<u>Ancient Macedonian</u>'' (Αρχαίος Μακεδόνας) refers to an [[Ancient Macedonians|Ancient Macedonian]].<ref name= Meizon />
* ''<u>Macedonian Slav</u>'', ''<u>Slavic Macedonian</u>'' or ''<u>Slavomacedonian</u>''<sup><span style="color:#00f">N-</span></sup>{{Ref label|offensive4|5|c}} (Σλαβομακεδόνας) refers to a member of the [[Macedonians (ethnic group)|Macedonian ethnic group]].
* ''<u>Macedonian Slavic</u>'', ''<u>Slavic Macedonian</u>'' or ''<u>Slavomacedonian</u>''<sup><span style="color:#00f">N-</span></sup>{{Ref label|offensive4|5|d}} (Σλαβομακεδονικά) refers to the [[Macedonian language]].<ref>{{cite web |title= Greek Helsinki Monitor & Minority Rights Group-Greece (MRG-G) | work = EBLUL and EUROLANG drop references to "Slavo-Macedonia Language" in favor of " Macedonian Language" following criticism by Macedonian diaspora and Minority rights NGOs | date = [[13 March]] [[2002]] | url = http://www.greekhelsinki.gr/bhr/english/organizations/ghm/ghm_13_03_02.rtf | format = rtf |accessmonthday = [[July 25]] | accessyear =2006}}</ref>
* ''<u>Republic of Skopje</u>'' (Δημοκρατία των Σκοπίων) refers to the [[Republic of Macedonia]].<ref>{{cite web | last = Nystazopoulou — Pelekidou | first = M. | coauthors = ''translated by:'' Kyzirakos I.| title = The republic of Skopje and the northest geographical boundaries of Macedonia | work = The "Macedonian Question": A Historical Review | publisher = Ionian University, ISBN 960-7260-01-5 | date = 1992 | url = http://www.hri.org/docs/macque/map2.html | accessmonthday = [[July 23]] | accessyear=2006 | language=English}}</ref>
* ''<u>State of Skopje</u>'' (Κράτος των Σκοπίων) refers to the [[Republic of Macedonia]].<ref>{{cite web | last = ''His Beatitude the Archbishop of Athens and All Greece'' | first = [[Christodoulos]] | title = The Archbishop on the problem of the naming of the FYROM | work = Letters | publisher = ''Ecclesia'': the official site of the [[Church of Greece]] | date = [[17 November]] [[2004]]| url = http://www.ecclesia.gr/english/archbishop/letters/fyrom.html |accessmonthday = [[July 25]] | accessyear =2006 | language=English}}</ref>
* ''<u>Skopje</u>'', or ''<u>Skopia</u>'' (Σκόπια) refers to either the [[Republic of Macedonia]] or its capital city of [[Skopje]].<ref name=Skopje>{{el icon}} {{cite web| url=http://www.e-grammes.gr/article.php?id=1932|title= Ελληνικές Γραμμες ("Hellenic Lines") |accessmonthday = [[July 18]] | accessyear=2006}} </ref>
* ''<u>Skopjan</u>'', or ''<u>Skopian</u>'' (Σκοπιανός) refers to a member of the Slav [[Macedonians (ethnic group)|Macedonian ethnic group]] living in the Republic or outside it, but not to any group native to Greece.<ref name= Skopje />
* ''<u>Skopianika</u>'' (Σκοπιανικά) refers to the [[Macedonian language]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.geonames.de/langmkd.html|title=Macedonian in different languages|accessmonthday = [[July 19]]|accessyear=2006|language=English}}</ref>
* ''<u>Slavophone</u>'' (Σλαβόφωνος) refers to a member of the Slavic speaking [[Minorities in Greece|minority in Greece]], which mainly consists of [[Minorities in Greece#Christian Orthodox Slavophones|Greek-identifying Slavic-speakers]],<ref name=slavomacedonian> {{cite web| url= http://www.greekhelsinki.gr/pdf/macedonians_old.pdf | last = Greek Helsinki Monitor | first = MRG-G | title =The Macedonians | date = 1993–1996 | accessmonthday = [[July 25]] | accessyear=2006 | format=pdf}}</ref> but also [[Bulgarians]] and [[Macedonians (ethnic group)|ethnic Macedonians]].
* ''<u>Bulgaroskopian</u>'' (Βουλγαροσκοπιανός) is a derogatory term used to refer to [[Macedonians (ethnic group)|ethnic Macedonians]].<ref name = LAOS />
* ''<u>Pseudomacedonian</u>'' (Ψευδομακεδόνας) is a derogatory term used to refer to [[Macedonians (ethnic group)|Slavic Macedonians]], and asserts their nationhood is contrived.<ref>{{el icon}} {{cite web| title=antibaro.gr | url=http://www.antibaro.gr/national/xolebas_slabomakedones.htm |work=η επιστροφή των «Σλαβομακεδόνων» (the return of the «Slavomacedonians»)| accessmonthday = [[September 10]]|accessyear=2006}}</ref>
{{ColBreak}}
=== {{flagicon|Republic of Macedonia}} Ethnic Macedonian ===
* ''<u>Macedonia</u>'' (Македонија) can refer to either the [[Macedonia (region)|region of Macedonia]] or the [[Republic of Macedonia]].<ref name= ethnmkBrit>{{mk icon}} {{cite book| title= ЕНЦИКЛОПЕДИЈА Британика (Encyclopedia Britannica) |chapter=Maкедонија (Macedonia)| publisher=Топер| location=Скопје |year=2005}}</ref>
* ''<u>Macedonians</u>'' (Македонци) generally refers to the Macedonian ethnic group associated with the [[Republic of Macedonia]], neighbouring countries and abroad.<ref name= ethnmkBrit />
* ''<u>Aegean Macedonia</u>'' (Егејска Македонија — ''Egejska Makedonija'') refers to [[Macedonia (Greece)|Macedonia]] in [[Greece]] (as defined by the administrative division of Greece).<ref>{{mk icon}} {{cite web| url=http://www.a1.com.mk/vesti/default.asp?VestID=10713 | title=A1 TV | work=Средба на Македонците од Егејска Македонија во Трново| accessmonthday = [[July 21]] | accessyear=2006}}</ref><ref name=president>{{mk icon}} {{cite web| url=http://www.president.gov.mk/info.asp?SectionID=9&InfoID=1332#top | title=Official webpage of the President of the Republic of Macedonia | work=Остварени средби на Претседателот Бранко Црвенковски за време на неговата посета на Канада | accessmonthday = [[July 21]] | accessyear=2006 }}</ref>
* ''<u>Pirin Macedonia</u>'' (Пиринска Македонија — ''Pirinska Makedonija'') refers to the [[Blagoevgrad Province]] of Bulgaria (as defined by the administrative division of Bulgaria).<ref name=president />
* ''<u>Old Macedonian</u>'' (Старомакедонски) is one of the names [[Macedonians (ethnic group)|ethnic Macedonians]] give to the [[Ancient Macedonian language]].<ref name= tribuna>{{bg icon}} {{cite web| url= http://www.makedonskatribuna.com/MFAUST.htm | title=Македонска Трибуна (Makedonska Tribuna) | work=Народ, който не познава своята собствена история, се поддава на асимилация | author= Вѣнко Марковски | accessmonthday = [[July 21]] | accessyear=2006}} </ref>
* ''<u>Bugarashi</u>'' (бугараши) or ''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.<ref name =vest>{{mk icon}} {{cite web| url= http://www.vest.com.mk/default.asp?id=109142&idg=6&idb=1645&rubrika=Revija | title= Vest Macedonia daily newspaper | work= Бугарофили и србофили се тепале за црквата Свети Никола | accessmonthday = [[July 21]] | accessyear=2006}}</ref><sup>, </sup><ref>{{mk icon}} {{cite web| url= http://www.tribune.eu.com/articles/1344.html | title=Tribune | work= Кој го ослободи Марјановиќ од вистината? Кој за што, професорот за “најодвратните бугараши” | accessmonthday = [[July 21]] | accessyear=2006}} </ref>
* ''<u>Egejci</u>'' (Егејци) refers to people living in the Republic of Macedonia and abroad that are originating from Aegean Macedonia (Greek Macedonia), mainly refugees from the [[Greek Civil War]], also knowns as [[Aegean Macedonians]]<ref>{{mk icon}} {{cite web| url=http://www.a1.com.mk/vesti/default.asp?VestID=22918 | title=A1 TV | work=Протест на „Виножито“ и на Македонците Егејци на Меџитлија | accessmonthday = [[July 21]] | accessyear=2006}}</ref>
* ''<u>Grkomani</u>'' (гркомани) is a derogatory term used to refer to the largest portion of the [[Minorities in Greece#Slavic-speaking|Slavic-speaking]] minority of [[Macedonia (Greece)|Macedonia]] in [[Greece]] who self-identify as Greeks.<ref name=Grkomani> {{cite web| url= http://www.biserbalkanski.com/article.aspx?oid=24| title=Biser Balkanski, Canadian Macedonian Internet Community |work= Definition of a Gerkoman | accessmonthday = [[July 17]] | accessyear=2006}}</ref>
* ''<u>Srbomani</u>'' (србомани) or ''srbofili'' (србофили) are derogatory terms used to refer to people in the Republic of Macedonia self-identifying as Serbian, or having a pro-Serb orientation.<ref name= vest /><sup>, </sup><ref>{{cite web |last = Malinovski |first= I. |url=http://www.google.com/search?q=cache:dfoTcQgyFH0J:libertarianism.50g.com/+Srbomani&hl=en&lr=&strip=1|title="MARKOVGRAD"-Political Thought of the Serbian South.| date= [[May 23]] [[2002]] |publisher = Skoplje, FYROM |accessmonthday = [[July 19]]| accessyear=2006}}</ref>
{{EndMultiCol}}
</div>
== Notes ==
<div class="references-small">
<span style="color:#00f;font-variant:small-caps">n-[1]</span> {{note_label |offensive1|1|a}}{{note_label|offensive1|1|b}}{{note_label|offensive1|1|c}} During the [[Greek Civil War]], in 1947, the [[Minister for the Press and the Media (Greece)|Greek Ministry of Press and Information]] published a book, ''I Enandion tis Ellados Epivoulis'' ("Designs on Greece"), namely of documents and speeches on the ongoing Macedonian issue, many translations from Yugolsav officials. It reports [[Josip Broz Tito]] using the term "Aegean Macedonia" on the [[October 11]], [[1945]] in the build up to the Greek Civil War; the original document is archived in ‘GFM A/24581/G2/1945’. For Athens, the "new term, Aegean Macedonia", (also ''"Pirin Macedonia"''), was introduced by Yugoslavs. Contextually, this observation indicates this was part of the Yugoslav offensive against Greece, laying claim to Greek Macedonia, but Athens does not take issue with the term itself. The 1945 date concurs with Bulgarian sources. Further information on this can be found in the article [[Aegean Macedonia]].
<span style="color:#00f;font-variant:small-caps">n-[2]</span> {{note_label|Pirin|2|a}}{{note_label|Pirin|2|b}} Despite a history of use by Bulgarian nationalists,<ref name= VMRO-BND>{{bg icon}}{{cite web| url= http://vmro.bg/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=138 |title=VMRO-BND (Bulgarian National Party)|accessmonthday = [[July 21]] |accessyear=2006 }}</ref> the term "''[[Pirin Macedonia]]''" is today regarded as offensive by certain Bulgarians,<ref>{{bg icon}}{{cite web| url=http://cfi.hit.bg/bulgarian/b_5_3.htm | accessmonthday = [[July 21]] | accessyear=2006 | title=Club for Fundamental Initiatives | work=КАК СТАВАХ НАЦИОНАЛИСТ }}</ref> who assert that it is widely used by [[Macedonism|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.
<span style="color:#00f;font-variant:small-caps">n-[3]</span> {{note_label|offensive3|3|a}}{{note_label|offensive3|3|b}}{{note_label|offensive3|3|c}}{{note_label|offensive3|3| d}}{{note_label|offensive3|3|e}}{{note_label|offensive3|3|f}}{{note_label|offensive3|3|g}} 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]], especially inhabitants of the Greek province of Macedonia. The official reasons for this, as described by the [[Foreign relations of Greece|Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs]], are:
{{quotation|
"The choice of the name Macedonia by FYROM directly raises the issue of usurpation of the [[Macedon|cultural]] [[Hellenistic civilization|heritage]] of a [[Greece|neighbouring country]]. The name constitutes the basis for staking an exclusive rights claim over the [[Macedonia (region)|entire geographical area of Macedonia]]. More specifically, to call only the [[Macedonians (ethnic group)|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 [[Macedonians (Greek)|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]]."<ref name=GrFA> {{cite web | url= http://www2.mfa.gr/www.mfa.gr/en-US/Policy/Geographic+Regions/South-Eastern+Europe/Balkans/Bilateral+Relations/FYROM/FYROM+-+THE+NAME+ISSUE.htm|title=Hellenic Republic, Ministry of Foreign Affairs | accessmonthday = [[July 17]] | accessyear=2006 | work=Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) — The Name Issue | publisher= | pages= | language=English }}</ref>
}}
<span style="color:#00f;font-variant:small-caps">n-[4]</span>{{note|offensive2}} The abbreviated term "''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 [[Macedonians (ethnic group)|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''.
<span style="color:#00f;font-variant:small-caps">n-[5]</span> {{note_label|offensive4|5|a}}{{note_label|offensive4|5|b}}{{note_label|offensive4|5|c}}{{note_label|offensive4|5|d}} 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 [[Macedonians (ethnic group)|ethnic Macedonians]] living in Greece. The [[Greek Helsinki Monitor]] reports:
{{quotation|
"…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."<ref name= slavomacedonian />
}}
</div>
== References ==
<div class="references-small" style="-moz-column-count:2; column-count:2;">
<references /></div>
== Further reading ==
<div class="references-small">
* {{cite book
| last = Borza
| first = Eugene N.
| title = Before Alexander: constructing early Macedonia
| year = 1999
| publisher = Regina Books
| location = Claremont, CA
| id = ISBN 0-941690-97-0}} (pb)
* {{cite book
| last = Fox
| first = Robin Lane
| authorlink = Robin Lane Fox
| title = Alexander the Great
| publisher = Peinguin Books
| year = 1973
| id = ISBN 0-14-008878-4}} (pb)
* {{cite book|last = Wilkinson|first= Henry Robert|
title= Maps and politics; a review of the ethnographic cartography of Macedonia|
location= Liverpool|publisher=Liverpool University Press|year= 1951}}
</div>
{{featured article}}
[[Category:Macedonia]]
[[Category:Geography terminology]]
{{Link FA|el}}
{{Link FA|es}}
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[[el:Μακεδονία (ορολογία)]]
[[es:Macedonia (terminología)]]