--- title: "Issue 1 (2026)" --- # Issue 1 (2026) ## International Bulgarian Studies Conference “Translation and Its Challenges” (Masaryk University, Brno) **Abstract.** This report presents the International Conference on Bulgarian Studies *Translation and Its Challenges*, held on May 17, 2026, at Masaryk University in Brno, Czechia. The academic forum brought together lecturers, translators, and researchers from Bulgaria, Czechia, Slovakia, and Hungary, whose presentations were organized into three thematic sessions. The report outlines the main areas of scholarly discussion, including contemporary challenges facing the translation profession, translator training, the use of digital technologies and artificial intelligence, and the role of specialized publications in the development of translation studies. Particular attention is paid to literary translation between Slavic languages, the rendering of culture-specific references, phraseological expressions, units of measurement, and numerical expressions, as well as the functions of translators’ footnotes. Comparative analyses of translations of contemporary Bulgarian literary works, including novels by Georgi Gospodinov and Alek Popov, are also presented. The importance of international academic exchange and continuity in research for improving translation practices is emphasized. The conference is recognized as a productive scholarly forum that encourages interdisciplinary dialogue and opens new perspectives for contemporary translation studies. **Keywords:** *international conference on Bulgarian studies, translation studies, literary translation, Slavic languages, translation strategies, digital technologies, intercultural communication*   [Read more...](https://bgrech.eu/issue-1-2026/international-bulgarian-studies-conference-translation-and-its-challenges-masaryk-university-brno.md) ## Challenges in Translation **Abstract.** This report presents the International Doctoral Conference *Translation and Its Challenges IV*, held on April 8, 2026, at Masaryk University in Brno, Czechia. The academic forum brought together doctoral students from Bulgaria and Czechia, who presented their research findings in four thematic sections. The report outlines the main areas of scholarly discussion, covering issues in linguistics, translation studies, literary studies, semiotics, and cultural studies. Particular attention is paid to linguistic strategies of influence in media and political discourse, comparative studies of Slavic languages, phonetic and morphological features, dialectal vocabulary, and cognitive aspects of language use. The conference also featured research on contemporary literature, intercultural perception, and the educational potential of digital platforms. The importance of interdisciplinary approaches and international academic cooperation for the development of early-career researchers is emphasized. The conference is recognized as a productive scholarly forum that encourages the exchange of ideas, the improvement of research skills, and the professional development of doctoral students. **Keywords:** *international doctoral conference, translation studies, Slavic languages, comparative linguistics, literary studies, academic cooperation*   [Read more...](https://bgrech.eu/issue-1-2026/challenges-in-translation.md) ## The Third Bulgarian Language Speech Contest in Japan **Abstract.** This report presents the Third Bulgarian-Language Speech Contest in Japan, held on December 14, 2025, at Tokyo University of Foreign Studies. Organized by the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Tokyo and Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, the event brought together 15 participants from various Japanese universities and professional backgrounds, divided into three competition categories according to their educational and language proficiency levels. The report outlines the main themes of the speeches, focusing on the Bulgarian language, culture, traditions, history, and the participants’ personal experiences related to Bulgaria. Particular attention is paid to public speaking skills, language proficiency, and the ability to communicate personal impressions and intercultural messages effectively. The achievements of the award-winning participants and the significance of the competition in encouraging the study of Bulgarian as a foreign language are highlighted. The report emphasizes the role of the initiative in promoting Bulgarian culture in Japan, strengthening Bulgarian-Japanese relations, and fostering intercultural communication. The contest is presented as a growing educational and cultural initiative that stimulates interest in Bulgaria and creates lasting connections between the two countries. **Keywords:** *public speaking, Bulgarian as a foreign language, Japan, Bulgarian-Japanese relations, language proficiency, intercultural communication*   [Read more...](https://bgrech.eu/issue-1-2026/the-third-bulgarian-language-speech-contest-in-japan.md) ## Review of the Collection “The Cultural Identity of the Banat Bulgarians and Bulgarian Catholic Literature”. Sofia: BAS Publishing House “Prof. Marin Drinov”, 2025 **Abstract.** This review presents and analyzes the scholarly collection *The Cultural Identity of the Banat Bulgarians and Bulgarian Catholic Literature*, dedicated to the linguistic, literary, and cultural heritage of the Banat Bulgarian community. The main areas of research discussed include the development of Paulician Catholic literature, the formation and current state of the Banat Bulgarian regional written standard, word-formation patterns in the Banat Bulgarian dialect, and the role of literature in preserving community identity. Particular attention is paid to the historical and contemporary manifestations of cultural memory, the interaction between language, religion, and value systems, as well as women’s poetry in Banat Bulgarian literature. The review emphasizes the importance of an interdisciplinary approach combining textual, linguistic, ethnolinguistic, and literary methods for understanding cultural continuity and linguistic resilience. The collection is highly evaluated for its scholarly contribution to revealing the historical roots and contemporary dynamics of Banat Bulgarian identity and for outlining prospects for the preservation and development of the community’s linguistic and literary heritage. **Keywords:** *Banat Bulgarians, cultural identity, Bulgarian Catholic literature, Paulician literature, Banat Bulgarian dialect, regional written standard, cultural memory*   [Read more...](https://bgrech.eu/issue-1-2026/review-of-the-collection-the-cultural-identity-of-the-banat-bulgarians-and-bulgarian-catholic-literature-sofia-bas-publishing-house-prof-marin-drinov-2025.md) ## Review of the Book “The Names of the Bulgarians in the Bolgrad Region (Southern Bessarabia) – Part 1”. Sofia: BAS Publishing House “Prof. Marin Drinov”, 2025 **Abstract.** This review presents and analyzes Tatyana Braga’s monograph *The Names of Bulgarians in the Bolhrad Region (Southern Bessarabia)*, which examines the historical development and characteristics of the personal naming system of Bulgarian settlers in Bessarabia during the nineteenth century. The study is based on previously unpublished archival documents from the village of Tabak (Bolhrad), providing valuable evidence of the anthroponymic system of the Bulgarian diaspora. It explores the origin, frequency, word-formation patterns, and historical development of male and female personal names, as well as the formation and evolution of surnames under the influence of various linguistic and cultural contacts. Particular attention is paid to the interaction between traditional Bulgarian name forms and names associated with the Christian calendar, the processes of Russification, and the role of personal names as markers of ethnic and cultural identity. The review emphasizes the importance of historical, etymological, and sociolinguistic analysis in tracing changes in the naming system of Bessarabian Bulgarians. The monograph is highly evaluated for introducing previously unexplored archival material into scholarly circulation and providing a foundation for future comparative studies of Bulgarian diaspora communities and the compilation of an anthroponymic dictionary of Bessarabian Bulgarians. **Keywords:** *Bessarabian Bulgarians, Southern Bessarabia, anthroponymy, personal names, surnames, historical onomastics, Bulgarian diaspora*   [Read more...](https://bgrech.eu/issue-1-2026/review-of-the-book-the-names-of-the-bulgarians-in-the-bolgrad-region-southern-bessarabia-part-1-sofia-bas-publishing-house-prof-marin-drinov-2025.md) ## Bulgarian Studies in Athens: Modernity and Development **Abstract.**The object of research in the article is Bulgarian studies at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, which officially began with the establishment of the Department of Slavic Studies in 2007. The aim of this article is to be a basis for further research into Bulgarian studies not only in Athens, but also throughout Greece within the framework of developed Bulgarian-Greek (cultural, academic, spiritual, etc.) relations, within the framework of Slavic studies, which in Greece is one of the most developed areas of contemporary humanities, and within the framework of my (academic and other) relations with Bulgaria, including the writing of monographs, articles and other works dedicated to these issues. To achieve this goal, the article provides a comparative and systematic analysis of existing materials from the cited literature and notes, and the results of our work show that this topic is almost unknown and unexplored so far in the scientific literature, and it is precisely in this that its novelty lies. Her analysis also shows that Bulgarian studies at the University of Athens (and in Greece as a whole) is closely related to the science of Slavic studies and follows its development. However, it turned out that the field of Bulgarian studies has some characteristics that distinguish it from the rest of the fields of Slavic studies, which will be analyzed in the main text. **Keywords:***Bulgarian Studies, Slavic Studies, National and Kapodistrian University of* *Athens, Greece, Bulgaria*   REFERENCES BANEV, G. 2024. *PROEKT*: *Pisatelyat i diplomat Dimitar Shishmanov v Atina (1935–1940) po Natsionalnata programa „Nerazkazanite istorii na balgarite“ 2024/2025*. Athens: National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. EYAGGELOY, H. 2015. H ellhniki slabologia: Tomec sthn istoria kai thn exelixi thc. Sthn mnimh toy Kathhghti Charalampoy Papastathh. – In: *Slabiki Orthodoxia: Apo ton Kirillo kai ton Methodio stoyc hsychastec (9oc–15oc ai.)*, 318. EYAGGELOY, H. 2022. Oi slabikec spoydec, to ellhniko Panepistήmio kai oi prooptikec toy 21oy aiona. – *Fragmenta Hellenoslavica*, № 7, 43–54. GENKOV, V. 2022. Otlichie za roden lektor v Atinskia universitet. – *Az-buki Weekly*, № 47. KAPATOS, S. 2026. Rusistika v Grecii. – *Slavjanovedenie*, edited. POLIHRONIDU, S. 2013. Russkij jazyk v Grecii. Istorija, sovremennoe sostojanie, perspektivy. – *Vestnik RUDN, serija Russkij i inostrannye jazyki i metodika ih prepodavanija*, № 1, 105–108.   [Read more...](https://bgrech.eu/issue-1-2026/bulgarian-studies-in-athens-modernity-and-development.md) ## The Future of the Profession of Traslators – Perspectives and Horizons **Abstract.**This article summarizes the results of a survey conducted among students from two faculties at Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, focusing on the future of the translation profession. The analysis covers responses regarding the use of artificial intelligence tools in the translation process, as well as the future of translators and translation. **Keywords:***translation, artificial intelligence, the future of translation*   REFERENCE ŁUKASIK, M. 2024. The Future of the Translation Profession in the Era of Artificial Intelligence. Survey Results from Polish Translators, Translation Trainers, and Students of Translation. – In: *Lublin Studies in Modern Languages and Literature,*vol. 48, № 3, 25–39. Lublin: Maria Curie-Sklodowska University Press.   [Read more...](https://bgrech.eu/issue-1-2026/the-future-of-the-profession-of-traslators-perspectives-and-horizons.md) ## Translatability of Authorial Neologisms in Literary Fiction: The Case of “Time Shelter” in Czech **Abstract.**The article examines the translatability of author-created neologisms in literary texts through the case of the novel “Time Shelter” by G. Gospodinov and its translation into Czech. The focus falls on the title as a paratextual element and on its role as the first interpretive key to the work. The analysis explores the authorial neologism in the title in Bulgarian, which blends semantic layers from different conceptual domains to form a new meaning specific to the novel’s fictional world. In the Czech translation, this neologism is rendered through a translator-created neologism that preserves the core metaphorical structure and functional load of the original. The discussion demonstrates that successfully conveying authorial neologisms requires a creative approach, sensitivity to paratextual features, and the ability to construct new linguistic solutions that align with the productive word-formation patterns of the target language while reflecting the poetics of the source text. **Keywords:***title, authorial neologism, translator’s neologism, literary translation, paratext*   ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This text is published within the framework of the project *Phraseology – from theory to practice*, funded by the National Research Institute at Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”.   [Read more...](https://bgrech.eu/issue-1-2026/translatability-of-authorial-neologisms-in-literary-fiction-the-case-of-time-shelter-in-czech.md) ## The Formation of Secondary Imperfectives with the Suffix -avа-: a Morphonological Perspective **Abstract.**The present paper examines the formation of secondary imperfective verbs with the suffix *-ava-*in the Bulgarian language. The characteristics which distinguish it from other suffixes are traced and outlined. A classification is proposed, and the different morphophonological groups are analyzed. Comparing the morphophonological features that characterize the formation of secondary imperfectives made it possible to clearly demonstrate the systematic nature of the described transformations and the specific role of each alternation in marking a particular group. **Keywords:***suffix -ava-, morphonology, secondary imperfectives*   REFERENCES ANDREYCHIN, L. 1978. *Osnovna balgarska gramatika*. Sofia: Nauka i izkustvo. ANDREYCHIN, L., K. POPOV, M. IVANOV 1957. *Savremenen balgarski ezik za uchitelskite instituti, chast 2*. Sofia: Narodna prosveta. ARONSON, H. 1974. *Morfonologia bolgarskogo slovoizmenenia*. Moskva: Progress. BALAN, A. T. 1952. Vidovo prevrashtane u nashi glagoli. – *Balgarski ezik*, 1952, kn. 3–4. BANOVA, S. 1988. *Morfonologia na balgarskia ezik*. Avtoreferat na disertatsia. Sofia. BEAULIEUX, L. 1950. *Grammaire de la langue bulgare*. Paris. BERNSHTEYN, S. 1974. *Ocherk sravnitelynoy grammatiki slavyanskih yaz kov: Cheredovania. Imenn e osnov*. Moskva: Nauka. GSBKE 1980. *Gramatika na savremennia balgarski knizhoven ezik. Т. 2: Morfologia*. Sofia: BAN. KOSTOV, N. 1947. Proizvodni nesvarsheni glagoli s dvoyni formi. – *Ezik i literatura*, kn. 3–4. MASLOV, YU. 1956. *Ocherk bolgarskoy grammatiki*. Moskva: Izdatelstvo literatury na inostrannyh yazykah. MASLOV, YU. 1982. *Gramatika na balgarskia ezik*. Sofia: Nauka i izkustvo. MLADENOV, ST. 1979. *Istoria na balgarskia ezik*. Sofia: BAN. PASHOV, P. 1966. *Balgarskiyat glagol. Chast parva*. Sofia: Nauka i izkustvo. PASHOV, P. 1999. *Balgarska gramatika*. Sofia: Hermes. SCATTON, E. 1984. *A Reference Grammarof Modern Bulgarian*. Slavica Publishers. STOYANOV, ST. 1964. *Gramatika na balgarskia knizhoven ezik*. Sofia: Nauka i izkustvo. TILKOV, D., T. BOYADZHIEV 1977. *Balgarska fonetika*. Sofia: Nauka i izkustvo. VELCHEVA, B. 1980. *Praslavyanski i starobalgarski fonologicheski izmenenia*. Sofia: BAN. VENEDIKTOV, G. 1960. Otnosno nastavkite za imperfektivatsia v savremennia balgarski knizhoven ezik. – *Balgarski ezik*, kn. 2–3.   [Read more...](https://bgrech.eu/issue-1-2026/the-formation-of-secondary-imperfectives-with-the-suffix-ava-a-morphonological-perspective.md) ## Relationships between the Dependent Variable ‘Preferred Temporal Form in the Subordinate Clause’ and the Independent Variable ‘Place of Residence during the First Seven Years of Life’ **Abstract.**The study proceeds from the assumption that under favorable contextual conditions – most notably in subordinate adverbial clauses of time, condition, and purpose, as well as in relative clauses – syntagmatic neutralization of oppositions along one, two, or three features may occur. Its realization may lead to the replacement of the expected temporal form under sequential tense agreement between the main and subordinate clause by a form belonging to another, less marked tense category. Evidence for this claim derives from a questionnaire survey conducted among 3166 respondents. The article tests, through the chi-square method, the relationships between respondents’ preferences for the temporal form in the subordinate clause under conditions of possible syntagmatic neutralization (as the dependent variable) and the independent variable of place of residence during the first seven years of life. The analysis also seeks to determine the precise nature of the statistically confirmed relationships. **Keywords:***syntagmatic (contextual) neutralization, indirectness, posteriority, anteriority, perfectivity, chi-square method*   ACKNOWLEDGMENTS AND FUNDING This research was funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU, through the Bulgaria’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan, project SUMMIT BG-RRP-2.004-0008-C01.   REFERENCES ALEKSOVA, K. 2003. Sintagmatichnata neutralizatsia na gramaticheskite opozitsii kato prichina za razlichnite sastoyania, koito morfologichnata sistema mozhe da zaema (varhu material ot temporalnata sistema na balgarskia ezik). – V: *Nauchni trudove na Plovdivskia universitet „Paisiy Hilendarski“, t. 41: Filologia*. Plovdiv: Universitetsko izdatelstvo „Paisiy Hilendarski“, kn. 1, 147–166. ALEKSOVA, K., D. APOSTOLOVA 2024. Vrazki mezhdu *predpochitaniyata*na anketirani balgari *kam konkurirashti se temporalni formi v podchineni izrechenia*v savremennia balgarski ezik i faktora *vid spetsialnost*. – *Balgarski ezik i literatura*, t. 66, kn. 6, 662–676. [https://doi.org/10.53656/bel2024-5-4KA](https://doi.org/10.53656/bel2024-5-4KA) ALEKSOVA, K., D. APOSTOLOVA, YA. SIVILOVA i dr. 2024. Predpochitania kam konkurirashti se temporalni formi v podchineni izrechenia v savremennia balgarski ezik. Analiz na danni ot anketno dopitvane. – *Balgarski ezik i literatura*, god. 66, kn. 5, 471–500. [https://doi.org/10.53656/bel2024-5-1](https://doi.org/10.53656/bel2024-5-1A)[A](https://doi.org/10.53656/bel2024-5-1A) GARAVALOVA, I. 2003. *Shkolata na naturalnata morfologia i balgarskata morfologichna sistema*. Sofia: SEMA RSH. GERDZHIKOV, G. 1973/2013. Za spornite vaprosi na balgarskata temporalna sistema. – V: *Izvestia na Instituta za balgarski ezik*. T. ХХІІ, 1973, 125–150. Tsitira se po: GERDZHIKOV, G. *Izbrani studii i statii po ezikoznanie*. Sofia: Universitetsko izdatelstvo „Sv. Kliment Ohridski“, 155–184. GERDZHIKOV, G. 1974/2013. Harakterat na morfologicheskite opozitsii i organizatsiyata na mnogochlennite sistemi. – *Balgarski ezik*, 1974, kn. 1, 34–47. Tsitira se po: GERDZHIKOV, G. *Izbrani studii i statii po ezikoznanie*. Sofia: Universitetsko izdatelstvo „Sv. Kliment Ohridski“, 2013, 31–54. GERDZHIKOV, G. 1976. Balgarskite glagolni vremena kato sistema. – V: PASHOV, P., R. NITSOLOVA (sast.). *Pomagalo po balgarska morfologia. Glagol*. Sofia: Nauka i izkustvo, 224–229. GERDZHIKOV, G. 1978/2013. Za sistemno obuslovenite znachenia na gramaticheskite kategorii. – V: *Slavistichni izsledvania*, 1987, 73–83. Tsitira se po GERDZHIKOV, G. *Izbrani studii i statii po ezikoznanie*. Sofia: Universitetsko izdatelstvo „Sv. Kliment Ohridski“, 55–66. GOEV, V., V. BOSHNAKOV, E. TOSHEVA i dr. 2019. *Statisticheski analiz v sotsiologicheski, ikonomicheski i biznes izsledvania*. Sofia: Izdatelski kompleks – UNSS. MAROVSKA, V. 2013. *Referentsia i referirane v sveta na ezika*. Plovdiv: Universitetsko izdatelstvo „Paisiy Hilendarski“. NITSOLOVA, R. 2008. *Balgarska gramatika. Morfologia*. Sofia: Universitetsko izdatelstvo „Sv. Kliment Ohridski“. PASHOV, P. 1999. *Balgarska gramatika*. Sofia: Hermes. STOYANOV, S. (gl. red.) 1983. *Gramatika na savremennia balgarski knizhoven ezik. T. 2: Morfologia*. Sofia: Izdatelstvo na BAN.   [Read more...](https://bgrech.eu/issue-1-2026/relationships-between-the-dependent-variable-preferred-temporal-form-in-the-subordinate-clause-and-the-independent-variable-place-of-residence-during-the-first-seven-years-of-life.md) ## Prosodic Constraints and the Acquisition of Aspectual Morphology in Early Childhood **Abstract.**The article examines the acquisition of Bulgarian aspectual morphology by children up to 3 years of age. One of the important problems in this process is the omission of verb prefixes during the telegraphic stage of child development, which is universal in nature. The theoretical understanding of children’s telegraphic speech production between the 1970s and the first decade of the 21st century is traced. The emphasis is placed on the prosodic constraints associated with the syllabic versus non-syllabic realization of aspectual affixes, the accentual structure of verb forms and their dependence on the structure of the minimal word. The theoretical predictions regarding the process of mastering Bulgarian modal morphology are tested on empirical data excerpted from the speech production of three longitudinally studied Bulgarian children. **Keywords:***prosodic constraints, perfective vs imperfective verb forms, acquisition of aspectual morphology up to 3 years of age*   [Read more...](https://bgrech.eu/issue-1-2026/prosodic-constraints-and-the-acquisition-of-aspectual-morphology-in-early-childhood.md) ## Metaphorical Models of Sports Defeat in the Bulgarian and Romanian Languages **Abstract.**The subject of this study is the conceptual metaphor in the Bulgarian and Romanian sports media space. The method of cognitive semantics was used to compare the processes of metaphorization in the two unrelated languages. The aim is to trace the similarities and differences based on the metaphorical schemes. **Keywords:***conceptual metaphor, cognitive semantics, media speech, Bulgarian language, Romanian language, defeat, sport*   [Read more...](https://bgrech.eu/issue-1-2026/metaphorical-models-of-sports-defeat-in-the-bulgarian-and-romanian-languages.md) ## The Political Crisis in Bulgaria through the Lens of Italian Online Media **Abstract.**The past year will be remembered for the protests that led to the fall of the government. They were an integral part of the Bulgarian news, but it is important to monitor how the political situation in Bulgaria is perceived outside the country. Therefore, the article will analyze how Italian online media reported the news of the government’s resignation. Attention will be paid to both the linguistic expressions used by journalists and the main topics they cover. **Keywords:***protests, Italian online media, metaphors*   REFERENCES DACHEVA, G. 2014. *Stilistichni efekti na alyuzivnite zaglavia*. Sofia: Paradigma. DOSEV, V. 2014. *Manipulativnata rolya na metaforite v mediynia diskurs*. Varna: Steno. PASTUCHA-BLIN, A. 2022. L’espressività del linguaggio giornalistico in base all’analisi dei lead. – *Revue Roumaine de Linguistique*, LXVII, 4, 2022, 333–344. ZAMBOVA, A. 2000. *Manipulativni ezikovi strategii v pechata*. Sofia: SEMA RSH.   [Read more...](https://bgrech.eu/issue-1-2026/the-political-crisis-in-bulgaria-through-the-lens-of-italian-online-media.md) ## The Speech of The Wolf of Wall Street **Abstract.**The article offers an analysis of the famous film speech of the motivational speaker from *The Wolf of Wall Street*. The arguments, style and paralinguistic devices are consistently analyzed. Attention is paid to the cultural background, which has a decisive role in the impact on the audience. **Keywords:***American dream, arguments by example, identification, repetition*   [Read more...](https://bgrech.eu/issue-1-2026/the-speech-of-the-wolf-of-wall-street.md) ## On the Spelling of Euro and Eurocent – Why They Cannot Be Abbreviated **Abstract.**The article focuses on the spelling of the words for euro and eurocent in Bulgarian according to the literary spelling norms. The words for euro and eurocent in Bulgarian cannot be abbreviated and there are no abbreviated forms when written in a position after a number or a numeral. **Keywords:***Bulgarian literary language, euro, eurocent, spelling*   [Read more...](https://bgrech.eu/issue-1-2026/on-the-spelling-of-euro-and-eurocent-why-they-cannot-be-abbreviated.md) ## Update of the Adverbial Part of the Phraseme “Something is Rotten in the State of Denmark” in Bulgarian and Czech **Abstract.**The article offers a contrastive analysis of the updates applied to the phraseological unit *Има нещо гнило в Дания/Je něco shnilého ve státě dánském*in Bulgarian and Czech. The study demonstrates that, despite the unit’s strong formal stability, it exhibits a high degree of adaptability, primarily through modifications of its adverbial component. Various types of substitutions are examined–choronymic, oikonymic, institutional, and metaphorical–which enable precise contextual anchoring of criticism and reveal the productivity of the model in media and public discourse. The contrastive perspective highlights structural and cultural differences between the two languages: Bulgarian tends to employ direct geographical names, whereas Czech frequently uses ktetic adjectives and occasionally ironic or hyperbolic variants. The findings confirm that the phrase functions as a flexible and culturally shared tool for expressing social and political critique, combining stability with remarkable adaptability. **Keywords:***Bulgarian phraseology, Czech phraseology, contrastive analysis, phraseological updating, choronym, ktetic adjective*   [Read more...](https://bgrech.eu/issue-1-2026/update-of-the-adverbial-part-of-the-phraseme-something-is-rotten-in-the-state-of-denmark-in-bulgarian-and-czech.md) ## Use of Relative Adjectives to Indicate General Relationships **Abstract.**The study clarifies the nature of adjectives denoting “general relations”. A classification of the examined adjectives is made, and the possibilities of adjectives from each group to form comparative and superlative forms are presented in detail. Attention is also paid to the possibility of forming adverbs and nouns from adjectives denoting “general relations”. **Keywords:***adjectives denoting “general relations”, semantic classification, degrees of comparison*   REFERENCES ANDREYCHIN, L. 1978. *Osnovna balgarska gramatika*. Sofia: Nauka i izkustvo. BARAKOVA, P., B. RADEVA 2009. Drugite prilagatelni imena. – *Balgarska rech*2009/1–2, 44–57. BOYADZHIEV, T., I. KUTSAROV, Y. PENCHEV 2002. *Savremenen balgarski ezik*. Sofia: Petar Beron. BTR 1994. *Balgarski talkoven rechnik*. Sofia: Nauka i izkustvo. BUROV, S. 1986. *Stepenite za sravnenie v balgarskia ezik kato obekt na funktsionalnata morfologia*. Trudove na Velikotarnovskia universitet „Sv. sv. Kiril i Metodiy“ , t. 21, kn. 2: Ezikoznanie. Sofia, 150–172. BUROV, S. 1987. *Stepenite za sravnenie v savremennia balgarski ezik*. Biblioteka „Rodna rech omayna“, kn. 28. Sofia: Narodna prosveta. BUROV, S. 1998. Kam vaprosa za stepenuvaneto na prilagatelnite imena i narechiyata v savremennia balgarski knizhoven ezik. – *BE*1982/2, 104–110, prepechatano v: A. Aleksandrov, R. Rusinova. Pomagalo po balgarska morfologia. Imena. Shumen: Altos. GEORGIEV, S. 1999. *Morfoloia na balgarskia knizhoven ezik*. Veliko Tarnovo: Abagar. GSBKE 1983. *Gramatika na savremennia balgarski knizhoven ezik. Т. 2: Morfologia*. Sofia: BAN. KALKANDZHIEV, P. 1936. *Kratka balgarska gramatika*. Plovdiv: Pechatnitsa „Levski“. KIROVA, L. 2004. Osobenosti na chat obshtuvaneto. – *Problemi na balgarskata razgovorna rech*, kn. 6. Sofia, 135–144. KUTSAROV, I. 2007. *Teoretichna gramatika na balgarskia ezik. Morfologia*. Plovdiv: Universitetsko izdatelstvo „Paisiy Hilendarski“. NITSOLOVA, R. 2008. *Balgarska gramatika. Morfologia*. Sofia: Universitetsko izdatelstvo „Sv. Kliment Ohridski“. PASHOV, P. 1989. *Prakticheska balgarska gramatika*. Sofia: Narodna prosvetа. RADEVA, B. 2019. Stepenuvane na otnositelnite prilagatelnite imena v savremennia balgarski ezik. – V: *Rada i priyateli. Sbornik v chest na prof. d-r Radka Vlahova*. Sofia: Universitetsko izdatelstvo „Sv. Kliment Ohridski“, 87–98. RADEVA, B. 2020. *Za nevazmozhnoto stepenuvane na prilagatelni imena.*Dokladi ot Mezhdunarodnata godishna konferentsia na Instituta za balgarski ezik „Prof. Lyubomir Andreychin“ Sofia: Izdatelstvo na BAN „Prof. Marin Drinov“, 90–99. RADEVA, V. 2004. Traditsia i inovatsionnost v savremennite slovoobrazuvatelni protsesi. – *Balgaristichni studii*, 2, Sofia, 24–30. RADEVA, V. 2007. *V sveta na dumite*. Sofia: Universitetsko izdatelstvo „Sv. Kliment Ohridski“. RBE 1977. *Rechnik na balgarskia ezik*, t. 1–12. Sofia: BAN. RCHDBE 1992. *Rechnik na chuzhdite dumi v balgarskia ezik*. Sofia: BAN. RSBKE 1955. *Rechnik na savremennia balgarski knizhoven ezik*, t. 1. Sofia: BAN. STOYANOV, S. 1964. *Gramatika na balgarskia knizhoven ezik. Fonetika i morfologia*. Sofia: Nauka i izkustvo, 1964.   [Read more...](https://bgrech.eu/issue-1-2026/use-of-relative-adjectives-to-indicate-general-relationships.md) ## Common Features in the Dialects of Draginovo, Dorkovo, Kostandovo, and Rakitovo according to BDA **Abstract.**The text is part of a dissertation titled *Phonetic Features of the Dialects in the Velingrad Area – Current State*. It describes the common traits in the dialects of Draginovo, Dorkovo, Kostandovo, and Rakitovo, based on data from the Bulgarian Dialect Atlas. The presented similarities cover phonetic, morphological, and some lexical features of the studied dialects. **Keywords:***common features, Bulgarian Dialect Atlas, phonetic, morphological, lexical characteristics*   REFERENCES BDA 1975. *Balgarski dialekten atlas*. T. 3. Sofia: Balgarska akademia na naukite. MILETICH, L. 1906. Fonetichni osobenosti na pomashkite govori v Chepinsko. – *Periodichesko spisanie*, 66, 193–221. STOYKOV, S. 1993. *Balgarska dialektologia*. Sofia: Balgarska akademia na naukite.   [Read more...](https://bgrech.eu/issue-1-2026/common-features-in-the-dialects-of-draginovo-dorkovo-kostandovo-and-rakitovo-according-to-bda.md) ## Analysis of Phonetic Markers for Oral Speech in a Spontaneous Conversation between Three Generations of Women from Southeastern Bulgaria **Abstract.**This paper presents an empirical analysis of oral speech markers in spontaneous communication in Bulgarian, with a focus on phonetic features. The study establishes the presence, frequency and functions of characteristic oral speech markers and examines the influence of socio-demographic factors on their use. The results show that the main oral speech markers have a systemic and supradialectal nature, determined by the specifics of oral communication, while dialectal features are partially dependent on age and place of origin. Oral speech markers “in their pure form” appear approximately equally often in all informants and depend mainly on the informal communicative environment. **Keywords:***oral speech markers, phonetic features, elisions, supradialectal features, Southeastern Bulgarian*   REFERENCES ALEKSOVA, K. 2014. Obobshteno predstavyane na rezultatite ot predstavitelna anketa za izsledvane na ezikovite naglasi kam pravogovorni otklonenia. – V: TISHEVA, Y., K. ALEKSOVA, A. ASENOVA i dr. *Kak govori savremenniyat balgarin. T. 1: Gramatika i ustna rech*. Sofia: Fondatsia „Fokus“, 41–103. BUROV, ST. 2012. Dve normi na balgarskata ustna knizhovna rech. – *Elektronno spisanie LiterNet*, 07.11.2012, № 11 (156). [https://liternet.bg/publish28/stoian-burov/dve-normi.htm](https://liternet.bg/publish28/stoian-burov/dve-normi.htm). DZHONOVA, M., Y. VELKOVA 2014. Fonetichni i morfologichni osobenosti na ustnata rech. – V: TISHEVA, Y., K. ALEKSOVA, A. ASENOVA i dr. *Kak govori savremenniyat balgarin. T. 1: Gramatika i ustna rech*. Sofia: Fondatsia „Fokus“, 104–156. GSBKE 1998. BOYADZHIEV, T., E. GEORGIEVA, Y. PENCHEV i dr. *Gramatika na savremennia balgarski knizhoven ezik. T. 1. Fonetika*. Sofia: Abagar. POPOV, D. 2014. Rechevi portreti v savremennoto balgarsko govorene. – *Nauchni trudove na Plovdivskia universitet „Paisiy Hilendarski“*, t. 52, kn. 1, sb. A, 23–42. STOYKOV, S. 2002. Balgarska dialektologia. 4-to fototipno izdanie. Sofia: Akademichno izdatelstvo „Prof. Marin Drinov“, [https://macedonia.kroraina.com//st/](https://macedonia.kroraina.com//st/). TILKOV, D., T. BOYADZHIEV 2013. *Balgarska fonetika*. Sofia: Universitetsko izdatelstvo „Sv. Kliment Ohridski“. TISHEVA, Y. 2013. Za razgovornite markeri i ustnata komunikatsia. – V: *Problemi na ustnata komunikatsia*, kn. 9, II. Veliko Tarnovo: Universitetsko izdatelstvo „Sv. sv. Kiril i Metodiy“, 73–87. http://www.bgspeech.net/publications/_Za_razgovornite_markeri.PDF. TSVETKOVA, M. 1995. Pauzi na kolebanie v balgarskata razgovorna rech v sapostavka s drugi slavyanski ezitsi. – V: *Problemi na balgarskata razgovorna rech*, kn. 3. Veliko Tarnovo: Universitetsko izdatelstvo „Sv. sv. Kiril i Metodiy“, 190–196. ZHOBOV, V. 2004. *Zvukovete v balgarskia ezik*. Sofia: SEMA RSH.   [Read more...](https://bgrech.eu/issue-1-2026/analysis-of-phonetic-markers-for-oral-speech-in-a-spontaneous-conversation-between-three-generations-of-women-from-southeastern-bulgaria.md) ## Comparative Acoustic Analysis of Palatalized Bilabial and Velar Consonants with Eastern and Western Bulgarian Types of Articulation **Abstract.**The present study synthesizes the results of our previous research focused on the acoustic differences between palatalized bilabial and velar plosives with Eastern Bulgarian and Western Bulgarian types of articulation. The aim is to determine whether differences exist in selected acoustic parameters. The methodology is based on acoustic analysis conducted using the Praat software. Four main parameters are examined: the duration of the palatalized consonant, the duration of the second formant (F2) transition, and the onset and offset of the formant transition. The results indicate that bilabial consonants produced by speakers of Western Bulgarian dialects are characterized by shorter consonant duration and longer following vowels, whereas in Eastern Bulgarian articulation palatalized consonants exhibit longer duration, with the subsequent vowels being shorter. In the case of velar consonants, the duration of the formant transition differentiates the two types of articulation, particularly for voiced consonants. Positive formant transitions are observed for all consonants under investigation in both pronunciation types. The study confirms previously reported data on the differences between Eastern and Western types of articulation of palatalized consonants in Bulgarian. **Keywords:***palatalized consonants, bilabial consonants, velar consonants, acoustic parameters, Bulgarian language*   REFERENCES BOERSMA, P., D. WEENINK 2021. *Praat: Doing phonetics by computer*[Computer program]. Version 6.1.56, Available at: [http://www.praat.org/](http://www.praat.org/). BONDARKO, L., L. VERBICKAJA, M. GORDINA 2004. *Osnovy obshhej fonetiki.* *4-e izd., ispr*. Sankt-Peterburg: Filologicheskij fakul‘tet SPbGU; Moskva: Izdatel‘skij centr „Akademija“. KENT, R. D., C. READ. 2002. *The Acoustic Analysis of Speech*. 2nd ed. Albany, NY: Singular Thomson Learning. KOCHETOV, A. 2017. Acoustics of Russian voiceless sibilant fricatives. – *Journal of the* *International Phonetic Association*, 47(3), 2017, 321–348. KOCHEV, I. 2010. *Balgarska fonologia*. Sofia: Aniko. LADEFOGED, P., K. JOHNSON 2011. *A Course in Phonetics*. 6th ed. Boston, MA: Wadsworth. LAVER, J. 1994. *Principles of Phonetics*. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. MARINOV, V. 2015. *Za fonologichnia status na mekite saglasni vav vlashkia dialekt v* *Severozapadna Bulgaria.*Veliko Tarnovo: Universitetsko izdatelstvo „Sv. sv. Kiril i Metodiy“. MARINOV, V., G. PADAREVA-ILIEVA 2021. Akustichni osobenosti na artikulatsiyata ot iztochnobalgarski i zapadnobalgarski tip na meki saglasni (pilotno izsledvane). – V: *Problemi na ustnata komunikatsia*, t. 12, 379–391. MARINOV, V., G. PADAREVA-ILIEVA 2022. Comparative analysis of acoustic parameters of soft bilabial and velar plosives of Eastern and Western Bulgarian type. – *Linguistique Balkanique*, 61(1), 68–79. MATUSEVICH, M. I. 1955. Jeksperimental‘no-foneticheskie issledovanija soglasnyh bolgarskogo jazyka. – V: *Institut slavjanovedenija. Kratkie soobshhenija*, vyp. 15, 3–16. ORDIN, M. 2010. Palatalization and temporal organisation of CVC clusters in Russian. – *Russian Linguistics*, 34(1), 2010, 57–65. PADAREVA-ILIEVA, G. 2012. Eksperimentalnite fonetichni izsledvania kato chast ot diagnostikata i terapiyata na rechevite narushenia – perspektivi v Bulgaria. – *Ezikov svyat*, t. 10, kn. 1, 2012, 42–49. PADAREVA-ILIEVA, G. 2015. *Akustichnata fonetika pri izsledvane na komunikativni narushenia*. Blagoevgrad: Universitetsko izdatelstvo „Neofit Rilski“. PADAREVA-ILIEVA, G., V. MARINOV 2022. Akustichni osobenosti na meki velarni saglasni ot iztochnobalgarski i zapadnobalgarski tip. – *Balgarski ezik*, 69(1), 153–173. PADGETT, J., R. BENNETT, G. MCGUIRE et al. 2024. Russian palatalization is a matter of the tongue body. – *Journal of Slavic Linguistics*, 32(3), 1–25. SOKOLJANSKIJ, A. 2017. Korreljacija tverdosti/mjagkosti soglasnyh v russkom jazyke. – *Mezhdunarodnyj nauchno-issledovatel’skij zhurnal*, 2 (56), chast’ 1, 39–44. STOYKOV, ST. 1952. Palatalnite saglasni v balgarskia knizhoven ezik. – *Izvestia na Instituta za balgarski ezik*, kn. I, 5–63. STOYKOV, ST. 2022. *Balgarska dialektologia*. Sofia: Akademichno izdatelstvo „Prof. Marin Drinov“. TILKOV, D. 1983. Akustichen sastav i distributsia na palatalnite saglasni v knizhovnia balgarski ezik. – V: BOYADZHIEV, T., MLADENOV, M. (sast.). *Izsledvania varhu balgarskia ezik*. Sofia: Nauka i izkustvo, 1983, 79–139. UVOD 1986. *Uvod v izuchavaneto na yuzhnoslavyanskite ezitsi*. Sofia: Izdatelstvo na BAN. VIDENOV, M. 2007. *Identifikatsia po ezika.*Sofia: Feneya. ZHOBOV, V. 2004. *Zvukovete v balgarskia ezik*. Sofia: SEMA RSH. [Read more...](https://bgrech.eu/issue-1-2026/comparative-acoustic-analysis-of-palatalized-bilabial-and-velar-consonants-with-eastern-and-western-bulgarian-types-of-articulation.md) ## The Linguistic Image of the Human Being in Dialectal Vocabulary: Names for Character Traits (Based on Data from the Ideographic Dialect Dictionary, Vol. 1) **Abstract.**This article examines dialectal lexical items denoting human character traits as attested in Volume I (A–D) of the Ideographic Dialect Dictionary of the Bulgarian Language. Adopting an ideographic approach, the material is systematized into semantic groups comprising positively evaluative, negatively evaluative and ambivalent nominations. The analysis demonstrates that dialectal vocabulary serves not only as a means of naming personal characteristics but also as a repository of culturally and socially conditioned evaluative models. Special attention is given to ambivalent lexical items whose interpretation depends on context, as well as to figurative nominations reflecting the rich imagery of folk linguistic creativity. The study highlights the effectiveness of ideographic classification for a more comprehensive understanding of dialectal lexical diversity and its role in shaping the linguistic representation of the human character. **Keywords:***dialectal vocabulary, ideographic approach, semantic classification*   REFERENCES IDRBE 2012. *Ideografski dialekten rechnik na balgarskia ezik*. T. 1 (A–D). Sofia: Universitetsko izdatelstvo „Sv. Kliment Ohridski“. OPRBE 2012. *Ofitsialen pravopisen rechnik na balgarskia ezik*. Sofia: Prosveta.   [Read more...](https://bgrech.eu/issue-1-2026/the-linguistic-image-of-the-human-being-in-dialectal-vocabulary-names-for-character-traits-based-on-data-from-the-ideographic-dialect-dictionary-vol-1.md) ## Verb Aspect and Aspect Formation in the Dialect of the Village of Rechane, Prizren **Abstract.**The main aim of the article is, based on material personally collected by the author during the conduct of undergraduate courses in Bulgarian language, literature, history and culture for the Bulgarian minority in the Sredska Župa district, Republic of Kosovo in the period 2015–2019, to present the way of organizing and functioning of the grammatical category ‘verbal aspect’ in the dialect of the Village of Rechene, Prizren Region, which arouses interest with the variety of specificities registered in the processes of imperfection and perfectification. Although the language of the Župci is characterized by the presence of all the diagnostic features of the Bulgarian language, due to its “mixed” nature (a definition traditionally given to dialects located outside our state borders due to their influence, to a greater or lesser extent, by the official language of the state within whose borders they are located), the population of the region is still defined as Serbian, Macedonian or even Bosniak. Therefore, it is of particular importance to prove its belonging to the Bulgarian linguistic continuum by studying the Rechan dialect from a synchronic point of view at all linguistic levels and thus to determine the location of the western border of our linguistic territory. **Keywords:***verb aspect, aspect formation, perfectification, imperfectification, Rechan dialect, dialectology*   REFERENCES ANDREYCHIN, L. 1944. *Osnovna balgarska gramatika*. Sofia. ANDREYCHIN, L. 1957. Kam harakteristikata na perfekta (minalo neopredeleno vreme) v balgarski ezik. – V: *Sb. Ezikovedski izsledvania v chest na akad. St. Mladenov*. Sofia. ANTONOVA-VASILEVA, L. 2016. *Dialektnata sistema na s. Shishtevets, Kukaska Gora –* *edin govor na granitsite na balgarskata gramatika*. Sofia: Mozayk“. ANTONOVA-VASILEVA, L. 2018. Zapazvaneto na balgarskite govori v Kosovo – perspektivi i problemi. – *Ezikov svyat*, № 16, 54–64. BDA 2001. *Balgarski dialekten atlas. Obobshtavasht tom. Ch. І–ІІІ. Fonetika. Aktsentologia. Leksika*(аvt. kolektiv). Sofia: Trud. BER 1971. *Balgarski etimologichen rechnik*(avt. kolektiv). T. 1. Sofia: Izdatelstvo na BAN, 1971. BER 2002. *Balgarski etimologichen rechnik*. T. 6 (avt. kolektiv). Sofia: Akademichno izdatelstvo „Prof. Marin Drinov“. BOZVELI, N. 1835. *Slavenobolgarskoe detovodstvo za malkite detsa. Chast tretaya*. Kraguevats. GARAVALOVA, I. 2003. *Shkolata na naturalnata morfologia i balgarskata morfologicheska sistema*. Sofia: SEMA RSH. GARAVALOVA, I. 2021. Novi danni za fonetichnata sistema na s. Rechane, Prizrensko. – V: *Izvestia na Instituta za balgarski ezik „Prof. L. Andreychin“*, № 34, 56–108. GERDZHIKOV, G. 1974. Harakterat na morfologicheskite opozitsii i organizatsiyata na mnogochlennite sistemi. – *Balgarski ezik*, № 1, 34–47. GERDZHIKOV, G. 1999. Kriteriite za nasokata na subordinatsiyata mezhdu chlenovete na gramaticheskite opozitsii. – *Sapostavitelno ezikoznanie*, № 1, 57–85. MASLOV, YU. 1959. Glagol‘nyj vid v sovremennom bolgarskom literaturnom jazyke (znachenie i upotreblenie). – V: *Sb. Voprosy grammatiki bolgarskogo literaturnogo jazyka*. Moskva: Izdatelstvo Akademii nauk SSSR. MASLOV, YU. 1963. Kam tipologiyata na glagolnia vid. – *Ezik i literatura*, № 1, 6–18. MIRCHEV, K. 1978. *Istoricheska gramatika na balgarskia ezik*. Sofia: Nauka i izkustvo. RADULOV, S. 1863. *Uchebnik za balgarskiy yazik, preveden i preraboten ot podoben* *ruskiy uchebnik [ot Smirnov]*. Bolgrad. RILSKI, N. 1835. *Bolgarska gramatika*. Kraguevats. VOYNIKOV, D. 1866. *Kratka balgarska gramatika s uprazhnenia*. Viena, 1866.   [Read more...](https://bgrech.eu/issue-1-2026/verb-aspect-and-aspect-formation-in-the-dialect-of-the-village-of-rechane-prizren.md) ## Phonetics and Information Structure (Based on Bulgarian Dialects) **Abstract.**In this discussion, we treat the relation between the status of a constituent in the information structure of the utterance and the elision as a phonetic change in the word. There are different factors involved in the process of elision: phonetic, morphonological, syntactic, etc. Here we represent the information structure of the sentence as one of the main conditions that lead to the loss of sounds. We argue that the elision of sounds appears only when a (phonological) word is topicalised. **Keywords:***ellipsis, dialects, information structure*   ## 1. Introduction Elision is a phonetic change in the word typical for the spoken form of the standard Bulgarian language, it is considered normative and it appears under certain phonetic conditions. Elision is very frequent in Bulgarian dialects, but there are also competing forms with retained sounds. An early remark on elision is found in Mirchev (1901) and Miletich (1903). Mladenov notes that vowels are frequently lost in the definite forms of nouns, adjectives, and numerals, and defines the change as “dissimilatory or haplological reduction” (Mladenov 1935: 45). Elision of vowels was also described, with varying degrees of details, in Stoykov (1993), Boyadzhiev (1972, 1991), Holiolchev (1969), Shishkov (2002), a.o. In their studies, they represent only the phonological, but not the syntactic conditions for elision or the influence the information structure has over the phonological changes in a word. However, there are studies in this area, treating elision in other languages (cf. Fanselow 2004; Hartmann, Zimmermann 2004). In our paper, we consider the status of a lexeme in the information structure of the utterance to be one of the main conditions that lead to the loss of sounds in Bulgarian dialects, simultaneously with the phonological factors. This point of view is motivated by the analyses of empirical data from three villages in Bulgaria – Markovo (Chirpan region), Malevo (one of the so-called “kina-villages” in Haskovo region) and Kralevo (Haskovo region). Elision is frequent in their dialect, but there are also competing forms with retained sounds. The dialect represented pertains to North-Thracian Bulgarian dialects. The aim of this paper is to represent the influence of the information structure over the appearance of elision in dialects. The organization of the paper is as follows. First, we provide a brief overview of the theories on information structure. We describe in detail the topic positions in Bulgarian. Then, we represent the specificity of the elision in Bulgarian dialects. Based on those theoretical frameworks, we analyse different instances of elision from our database and compare them with the competing forms without elision. Then we make conclusions about the influence the information structure has on the level of phonology. The analyses are based on examples from the database for Bulgarian dialects collected by the Faculty of Slavic Studies at Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”.   ## 2. Information structure The analysis of the information structure of the sentence reveals some morphosyntactic peculiarities of languages such as argument structure, doubling of arguments, word order, etc. The information structure is also one of the factors involved in the process of elision. Contemporary studies represent the information structure as a conjunction of two subsets: *topic – comment*and *focus – background*(cf. Van Valin 1997; Nitsolova 2001; Primus 1993). *Topic*is usually defined as what the sentence is about (Primus 1993: 880), the rest of the sentence is the comment. The topic phrase tends to occur at the periphery of the sentence. There are different methods of topic marking: by lexical or morphological elements, by certain types of syntactic structures (e.g. the clitic doubling in Bulgarian), or by intonation. The *focus*is relation between a constituent X and a focusing operator Y (which may be overt as with particles such as *only, even*in English, and the contrastive negation). The non-focused part of the sentence is the background of Y (cf. Primus 1993). Factors that determine the focus are sentence prosody, word order and lexical markers. Here we follow the analysis of the information structure proposed by Rizzi (1998) and elaborated by Benincá (2001) and the application of this theory on Bulgarian data (Krapova 2001, 2004; Tisheva, Dzhonova 2002, 2007). Rizzi (1998) establishes four projections in the CP field: Force > Top* > Foc > Top* > Fin > IP There is only one Focus projection for the contrastive focus marked by the sentence emphatic sentence stress and/or the focusing particles. The Topic projection could be recursive. There are two topic phrases in the following example (1) – *на Иван*and *книгата*, both of them marked by a resumptive clitic (*му*and *я*) and by the word order – they occupy a position in the left periphery of the sentence (the so-called Clitic Left Dislocation – CILD). (1) ***На Иван книгата****АЗ му я дадох*. I gave the book to Ivan. There is only one focus projection in this sentence – the personal pronoun *аз*, marked as contrastive focus by the emphatic stress. One of the peculiarities of Bulgarian is that the subject pronoun is overt only when it is focused. When it is topic in the sentence, it is usually omitted (Bulgarian is a pro-drop language, for discussion see Maslov 1982: 353). There are also certain positions for topic and focus on the right periphery of the sentence (cf. Cardinaletti 2002; Tisheva, Dzhonova 2007) such as the Right Dislocation. It involves clitic doubling where clitic precedes the NP or the PP topic, e.g. *на Иван*in (2). (2) *Книгата аз му****я****дадох****на Иван***. I gave the book **to Ivan**. The subject could also be topicalised in right dislocation position, e.g. *тя*in the following example: (3) *А на мен толкова ми беше интересна****тя***. And **she**was so interesting to me. The regular non-marked word order of the constituents in Bulgarian sentence is SVO, thus the movement of the subject to the right of the predicate marks it as right dislocation topic. In Bulgarian there are also predicates that require an obligatory clitic doubling – *страх ме е*‘I am afraid’*, мъчно ми е*‘I am sad’*, ха- ресва ми*‘it pleases me’. (4) *На Иван му е мъчно*. Ivan is sad. It is important to mention that the object of those predicates could be clitic resumed even when it occupies the FocusP. In those cases, additional factors like context, emphatic stress, focus particles, etc. help us to identify the status of the object in the information structure of the sentence. In (4) the PP *на Иван*could be either topic, or focus if we analyse the sentence alone. However, in discourse those sentences are never ambiguous. In the generative framework, VPs cannot occupy the TopicP or the FocusP. In his publication on the functional sentence perspective of Bulgarian Ivanchev (1978) does not impose such restriction. The grammatical means for the topic and focus (*theme*and *rheme*in the terminology of Ivanchev) are the word order, the emphatic stress, the definite article and the context.   ## 3. Elision The relation between the information structure and the loss of sounds explains why elision appears only in some sentence positions and why we find competing forms with retained sounds in the speech of one and the same person. The following example illustrates this phenomenon: (5) *Žă si năsučăš****măsuri****i s****măsurt’e****žă tăčeš*. There is no elision in the first mentioning of *măsuri*‘spools’, the NP is with non-specific reference, while in the second clause the noun in the PP *s măsurt’e*‘with these spools’ is definite and topicalised and consequently there is elision of the vowel ‘i’. In order a constituent to be topicalised in Bulgarian it should be [+specific] and/or [+definite]. In (5) the first mentioning of *măsuri*is [-specific] and [-definite]. In the second part of the utterance the object *s măsurt*’*e*is both definite and specific. That is why it can be topicalised. The formal marker for topicalisation in this utterance is the left dislocation of the indirect object *s măsurt*’*e*– the object is preposed with respect to the verb. Elision is defined as omission of one or more sounds (e.g. a vowel, a consonant, or a whole syllable) in a word or phrase and is usually attributed to the ease of articulation. Many authors draw attention to the elision in Bulgarian dialects (Miletich 1903; Boyadzhiev 1991; Stoykov 1993, etc.). Elision of sounds occurs in forms of all word classes. Different factors seem to condition the process of elision: the morphological structure of the word (e.g. duplication of some morphological meaning), the phonetic surrounding, the rhythmic pattern of the word, the syntactical structure, etc. It is also important that elision does not lead to a change in the meaning of the word. Usually these factors act together. When a word becomes an exponent of a grammatical relation, it can be degraded phonetically much easier. One of the characteristics of Bulgarian grammar in general is the redundancy. This tendency can be seen in the doubling of certain morphological markers which results in the redundant marking of the category. Such redundancy is consistently found in the plural definite forms for all genders. Thus, the plurality is marked twice; one of the plural morphemes becomes superfluous and is eliminated. The morpheme that is normally deleted is the plural ending, e.g. *žente*instead of *ženite*, *konte*instead of *konete*, etc.   ## 4. Elision and Information structure In the data analysed we found three types of elision: 1) elision of final vowels – *i*and *u*, cf. examples (6) and (7) (for discussion on this type of elision cf. Holiolchev 1969); 2) elision of a redundant morphological marker, cf. examples (8–13); 3) elision in words with vague inner form, e.g. *gramfon*instead of *gramofon*, or in words in common use (cf. examples 14–17). From the information structure point of view the main condition for the elision is the topicality of the word. On the other hand, emphatic stress blocks the elision. That explains the absence of elision in definite forms like *žytotu*(example 7) and *jad’en’etu*(example 8). The first mention of a particular object is usually marked by emphatic stress. Therefore, we do not find instances of elision in this position, although the object is specific and definite. The second mention of an object is rarely marked by emphatic stress (in fact never, according to the data analysed). That is why in the second part of the utterances (6–14, 16, 17) the same word appears with elision – of course in presence of the appropriate conditions. The elision in (6) somewhat differs from what we find in the rest of the examples: (6) *Našt’e****n’ivi****gi zimahă. Imăhm’e băja****n’iv***. The definite NP *našt’e n’ivi*is topicalised in left dislocation by the word order (the preposition of the object in respect to the verb) and the resumptive clitic *gi*. Hence, we find all the necessary conditions for the elision to appear – the second type of morphonological conditions and the topicality of the phrase. The elision appears only in the possessive pronoun in the NP – the plural inflexion *i*is elided, we find *našt’e*instead of *našite*. In the second utterance the emphatic stress falls on *băja*, hence nothing blocks the elision in *n’iv’*. The emphatic stress also influences the elision in VP, as we can see in example (14). In the first utterance the emphatic stress blocks the elision in *rabot’ehm’e*. In the second utterance the emphatic stress falls on *sămi*and the elision in the verb form is possible – cf. *rapt’ehm’e*. *(7) Ză****žytotu****n’ama prubl’em –****žytot****samu să s’avă. (8)****Jad’en’etu****hni gotovu. Nă ob’at pak****jad’en’tu****hni gotovu. (9) Žytutu nă es’entă pus’avăme.****L’atutu****gu pribirame. Taka d’e – pris****l’attu****. (10) Po-gul’amu b’eši****s’elotu****. Sige mladit’e izb’agahă f gradă i ustană****s’eltu****malku. (11) Šăroki rokli nos’echă ženit’e. Nos’ăli să podbradnik****žent’e****. (12) Ză puvikăt sičkit’e****rodi****. Ză pukan’ăt****rott’e****. (13) Hod’ehmi s****kubilicătă****–****kubilictă****z băkărit’e. (14) Mlogu****rabot’ehm’e****.****Rapt’ehm’e****si sămi. (15) Nai-năpr’eš zăs’avăme lukă, sl’ăd lukă - făsulă, sl’ăt făsulă – bustan’ă, sl’ăd bustan’ă –****carevicătă****. Lukă dă să zăgărli, făsulă dă să upraši,****carcătă****dă să upraši. (16) Dă utcădiš ml’aku ză banicătă, dă năpraiš****ban’cătă****. (17) B’eši mlok haren****čuv’ak****– um’en****čv’ak****.* It is interesting to analyse example (15). All NPs *lukă*‘onion’, *făsulă*‘beans’, *bustan’ă*‘melon field’, *carevicătă*‘corn’ are definite and can be treated as words of common use (cf. condition 3. for the elision). We only find elision in the second mention of *carevicătă*– *carcătă*. This is due to the important condition to preserve the meaning of the word. Even when it is topicalised, if we omit a vowel in *lukă, făsulă*or *bustan’ă*, we will violate the rule for consistency of meaning. It is worth mentioning that the elision in dialects appears not only within a separate lexeme. It is often observed within a phonological word, as we see in the following utterance (18): (18) *Dă gu zăs’ejăt i dă****g****polzvăt*.   ## 5. Conclusions To summarise, there are different factors that are involved in the process of elision: phonetic, morphological, syntactic, etc. In this paper, we argued for the influence of the information structure over the elision of sounds in Bulgarian dialects. We based our hypothesis on examples from East-Bulgarian dialects due to the fact that in this region the elision is frequent. The data investigated proves that both information structure and morphonological factors condition the elision. Hence, in some utterances we do not find elision in topicalised phrases, since the absence (or presence) of some morphonological factors blocks the elision. The degree of influence the information structure has over the elision of consonants, vowels and syllables needs further investigation.   REFERENCES ALEKSANDROV, А. 1998. *Dialektolozhki prouchvania.*Shumen: Altos. BENINCÁ, P. 2001. The position of Topic and Focus in the Left Periphery. – In: *Current Studies in Italian Syntax*. Amsterdam: Elsevier, 39–64. BOYADZHIEV 1972. *Govorat na s. Sachanli, Gyumyurdzhinsko*. Sofia: BAN. BOYADZHIEV 1991. *Balgarskite govori v Zapadna (Belomorska) i Iztochna (Odrinska) Trakia.*Sofia: Universitetsko izdatelstvo „Sv. Kliment Ohridski“. CARDINALETTI, A. 2002. Against optional and null clitics. Right Dislocation vs. Marginalization. – *Studia Linguistica*, 29–57. FANSELOW, G. 2004. 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MASLOV, Y. 1982. *Gramatika na balgarskia ezik.*Sofia: Nauka i izkustvo. MILETICH, L. 1903. *Das Ostbulgarische*. Wien. MIRCHEV, D. 1901. Belezhki po Kukushko-Vodenskia govor. – V: *Sbornik za narodni umotvorenia*, kn. XVIII. MLADENOV, S. 1935. Prinos kam izuchavaneto na balgarskite govori v Iztochna i Zapadna Trakia. – V: *Trakiyski sbornik*, VI. NITSOLOVA, R. 2001. Za konstrastnia fokus s chastitsi. – V: *Savremenni lingvistichni teorii. Pomagalo po sintaksis*. Plovdiv: Universitetsko izdatelstvo „Paisiy Hilendarski“, 76–85. PRIMUS, B. 1993. Word Order and Information Structure: A Performance Based Account of Topic Positions and Focus Positions. – In: *Syntax*. Berlin, 880–896. RIZZI, L. 1998. *On the Fine Structure of the Left Periphery*. Romance Syntax. Budapest. SHISHKOV, P. 2002. Elision of Unstressed Vowels in the Erkeč Dialect. – In: *Revitalizing Bulgarian Dialectology*. California. [https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9hc6x8hp](https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9hc6x8hp). SHISHKOV, P. 2002a. Nyakoi promeni v strukturata na dumata (po materiali ot govora na s. Stikal, Shiroka laka). – V: *Sbornik dokladi ot nauchnata konferentsia „Obuchenieto po balgarski ezik v nachaloto na XXI v.“*, Smolyan, 80–81. SHISHKOV, P. 2005. Vokalna elizia v grebenskia govor. – V: *Littera scripta manet. Sbornik v chest na 65-godishninata na prof. dfn Vasilka Radeva*. Sofia: Universitetsko izdatelstvo „Sv. Kliment Ohridski“, 249–252. STOYKOV, S. 1966. *Uvod vav fonetikata na balgarskia ezik*. Sofia: Nauka i izkustvo. STOYKOV, S. 1993. *Balgarska dialektologia*. Sofia: Izdatelstvo na BAN. TISHEVA, Y., M. DZHONOVA 2002. Information Structure and Clitics in TreeBanks. – In: *Proceedings of the First Workshop on Treebanks and Linguistic Theories*(TLT2002), Sozopol. TISHEVA, Y., M. DZHONOVA 2007. Za nyakoi slovoredni modeli za topikalizatsia v razgovornata rech. – V: *Problemi na ustnata komunikatsia*, t. 7. Veliko Tarnovo, 93–108. VAN VALIN, JR., R. D., R. J. LA POLLA 1997. *Syntax: structure, meaning and function*. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.   [Read more...](https://bgrech.eu/issue-1-2026/phonetics-and-information-structure-based-on-bulgarian-dialects.md) ## Bulgarian Language Island in Serbian Banat **Abstract. **The main topic of this article is to illustrate language contacts and the language innovations they give rise to, by presenting data on the dialect of the Bulgarian Paulicians living in Serbian Banat. Isolated from the main language territory and surrounded by three different languages (Romanian, Hungarian and Serbian) this form of Bulgarian language is an example of a language island. The analysis of the grammar features of the dialect show that archaic characteristics have not been preserved, but as a result of bilingualism, new features are developed. **Keywords:***language island, microlanguage, Banat Bulgarians, Bulgarian Paulicians*   REFERENCES ANTONOVA, L., M. ABADZHIEVA 2025. Banatskata regionalna pismena norma i uchebnite izdania za izuchavane na banatskia balgarski ezik (aktualni vaprosi i pravopisni predlozhenia). – V: TSIBRANSKA-KOSTOVA, M., L. ANTONOVA-VASILEVA, K. MICHEVA-PEYCHEVA i dr. *Kulturnata identichnost na banatskite balgari i balgarskata katolicheska knizhnina*. Sofia: Izdatelstvo na BAN „Prof. Marin Drinov“, 44–68. ASENOVA, P. 2005. Osobennosti funktsionirovania balkanskih dialektov v inoyazыchnom okruzhenii. – V: *Yazыki i dialektы malыh эtnicheskih grupp na Balkanah*. Sankt-Peterburg, Myunhen: Biblion Verlag, 8–19. BABIĆ, А. 2025. The Vulnerability of Banat Bulgarian in Serbia. An Overview. – In: *Vulnerable and Endangered Languages in Europe.*Belgrade: Institute for Balkan Studies of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts, 177–209. BOYADZHIEV, T. 2012. *Knizhoven ezik i dialekti. Izbrani trudove*. Sofia: Universitetsko izdatelstvo „Sv. Kliment Ohridski“. DULICHENKO, A. 1979. Slavyanskie literaturnыe mikroyazыki (Voprosы formirovania i razvitia). – V: *Uchen. zap. Tart. universiteta*. vыp. 486, 56–99. DULICHENKO, A. 1981. *Slavyanskie literaturnыe mikroyazыki. Voprosы formirovania i razvitia*. Tallin: Valgus. DULICHENKO, A. 2014. Slavyanskie literaturnыe mikroyazыki v lingvokulyturnom prostranstve Evropы. – V: *Aktualynыe эtnoyazыkovыe i эtnokulyturnыe problemы sovremennosti*, kn. I. Moskva: YSK, 180–218. IVANOVA, TS., N. BECHEVA 2003. Govorat i knizhovnoezikovata praktika na balgarite katolitsi ot Srabski Banat. – *Slavistika*VII, 353–359. LIKOMANOVA, I. 2007. Model na ezikovokomunikativna situatsia v pavlikyanskia govor na banatskite balgari v Sarbia. – V: ASENOVA, P., I. LIKOMANOVA, Y. TISHEVA i dr. *Balgarskite ostrovi na Balkanite*. Sofia: Figura, 137–145. MILETICH, L. 1937. Dva lyubopitni vaprosa ot balgarskata fonetika. – *Spisanie na BAN,* № 54, 139–146. MILETICH, L. 1990. Knizhninata i ezikat na banatskite balgari. – *SbNUNK*, kn. XVI– XVII, 1990, 339–482. MLADENOV, M. SL. 1993. *Balgarskite govori v Rumania*. Sofia: Izdatelstvo na BAN. MLADENOVA, М. 2021. *Banatskiyat balgarski knizhoven ezik v konteksta na slavyanskata* *mikrolingvistika (Istoria, dinamika na normata i ezikovi politiki).*Blagoevgrad: Universitetsko izdatelstvo „Neofit Rilski“. NOMACHI, M. 2020. Language Loss and Preservation: The Case of Banat Bulgarian in Serbia. – *Balkanistica*XXXIII, 289–318. NOMACHI, M. 2024. The Slavic Literary Micro-Languages. – *Cambridge Handbook of Slavic Linguistics*. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 641–656. NOMACHI, M. 2015. The Rise, Fall, and Revival of the Banat Bulgarian Literary Language: Sociolinguistic History from the Perspective of TransBorder Interactions. – In: *Тhe Palgrave Handbook of Slavic Languages, Identities and Borders*, Palgrave Macmillan London, 394–428. NOMACHI, M. 2016. Whose Literature? Aspects of Banat Bulgarian Literature in Serbia. – In: *Perspectives on Contemporary East European Literature: Beyond National and Regional Frames*, Moskva: Nauka, 179–192. NYAGULOV, BL. 1999. *Banatskite balgari. Istoriyata na edna maltsinstvena obshtnost vav vremeto na natsionalnite darzhavi.*Sofia: Paradigma. REDZICH, A., D. SOKOLOVICH 2023. Istrazhivaњa јezika palћanske zaјednitse u Voјvodini. – V: *Balgaristikata po sveta. Filologiyata u doma.*Blagoevgrad: Universitetsko izdatelstvo „Neofit Rilski“, 24–36. SIKIMIĆ, B., М. NOMAĆI 2016. Jezicki pejzaž memorijalnog prostora višejezicnih zajednica: Banatski Bugari/Palcani u Srbiji. – *Јужнословенски филолог*LXXII, № 1–2, 7–31. STOYKOV, ST. 1967. *Banatskiyat govor. Trudove po balgarska dialektologia*3. Sofia: Izdatelstvo na BAN. STOYKOV, ST. 1968. *Leksikata na banatskia govor*. Sofia: Izdatelstvo na BAN. STOYKOV, ST. 1993. *Balgarska dialektologia*. Sofia: Izdatelstvo na BAN. TISHEVA, Y. 2007. Sintaktichni osobenosti v govora na banatskite balgari v Sarbia. – V: ASENOVA, P., I. LIKOMANOVA, Y. TISHEVA i dr. *Balgarskite ostrovi na Balkanite.*Sofia: Figura, 155–169.   [Read more...](https://bgrech.eu/issue-1-2026/bulgarian-language-island-in-serbian-banat.md) ## Nothing Will Come of Nothing. More on Phonetics and Typology of “Spontaneous” Nasalization **Abstract.**This paper examines the phonetics and typology of “spontaneous” nasalization, a process of emergence of nasality (in vowels or consonants) in which this feature does not derive from an etymological nasal segment. The definition adopted here encompasses four major rare sound changes documented in isolated languages or language families: appearance of nasal segments near glottal and pharyngeal consonants (§2.1), near consonants produced with an extremely spread glottis (§2.2), prenasalization of voiced stops (§2.3), consonantally unconditioned nasalization of vowels (§2.4). The study explains the perceptive, articulatory, or aerodynamic motivation of the changes at issue, while seeking to account for their rarity in languages in the markedness of their output segments, and by reference to the notion of “evolutionary complexity”: the more complex the factors that drive linguistic change, and the more steps involved in the process, the rarer it will be. **Keywords:***phonetics, typology, nasal segments, sound change*   [Read more...](https://bgrech.eu/issue-1-2026/nothing-will-come-of-nothing-more-on-phonetics-and-typology-of-spontaneous-nasalization.md) ## The Scientific Work of Prof. Vladimir Zhobov in the Context of Bulgarian Dialectology and Phonetics **Abstract.** This article presents the scholarly and teaching contributions of Professor Vladimir Zhobov, a distinguished Bulgarian linguist whose research focuses on Bulgarian dialectology, experimental phonetics, and the study of living speech. It outlines the main areas of his academic work, including acoustic-phonetic analysis of dialectal vowels and consonants, the investigation of specific phonetic phenomena in Bulgarian dialects, and the systematic documentation of Bulgarian dialectal diversity. Particular attention is paid to his contribution to the introduction of digital methods in dialectology and the development of the online resource Bulgarian Dialectology as Living Tradition, which brings together audio recordings, phonetic transcriptions, and linguistic annotations of Bulgarian dialectal speech. The importance of international academic collaboration, field research, and digital humanities for preserving and promoting Bulgaria’s linguistic heritage is emphasized. Alongside his scholarly achievements, the article highlights Professor Zhobov’s role as a dedicated teacher and mentor to generations of philologists. The text expresses appreciation for his academic legacy and personal example, presenting the commemorative issue of the journal Bulgarian Speech as a testament to the lasting influence of his ideas on contemporary Bulgarian studies. **Keywords:** *Vladimir Zhobov, Bulgarian dialectology, experimental phonetics, Bulgarian dialects, digital humanities, linguistic heritage* [Read more...](https://bgrech.eu/issue-1-2026/the-scientific-work-of-prof-vladimir-zhobov-in-the-context-of-bulgarian-dialectology-and-phonetics.md) ## Issue 1 of the journal “Bulgarian Speech” for 2026, dedicated to the 65-th anniversary of Prof. Dr. Vladimir Zhobov   ![Prof. Dr. Vladimir Zhobov](https://bgrech.eu/images/articles/04-good-2026-01.jpg "Prof. Dr. Vladimir Zhobov") Foto *Veselin Borishev*   Issue 1 of the journal “Bulgarian Speech” for 2026, dedicated to the 65th anniversary of Prof. Dr. Vladimir Zhobov   [Read more...](https://bgrech.eu/issue-1-2026/issue-1-of-the-journal-bulgarian-speech-for-2026-dedicated-to-the-65-th-anniversary-of-prof-dr-vladimir-zhobov.md)