Macedo-Romanians - a distinct ethno-linguitsic entity

• Author: Rodica Stan - Ioan Stan
• Position: PhD Professor USAMV Cluj-Napoca - PhD Lecturer Agora University, Faculty of Law and Economics
• Pages: 84-86

MACEDO-ROMANIANS - A DISTINCT ETHNO-LINGUITSIC ENTITY

Rodica Stan

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Ioan Stan

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Abstract

The current paper sets forth the endeavors of Macedo-Romanian ethnics to maintain

their language and spirituality along centuries. The spoken and written language as well as

the unaltered traditions represents the identity card of Macedo-Romanians all over the

world. Lately the European thinking has evolved towards an appropriate resolution of less

spoken language rights, including the Macedo-Romanian language.

Key words: mother tongue, ethnic identity, mentality, spirituality.

Introduction

The concept of Identity has become emblematic of human destiny, summarizing

integrity, deep humanity and authenticity. For this cultural identity, especially religious,

ethnic, linguistic issues, lives are sacrificed daily in numerous difficultly remediable conflicts.

Identity is frequently reported to globalization, as both are deeply interdisciplinary.

Obviously, the most debated type of identity is the ethnic identity, that which belongs

to both the individual, the inner man, and to the community of people no matter the number

of individuals comprised, all connected by the fact that they speak the same language.

Macedo-Romanians are a typical example of ethnicity whose identity is demonstrated

by itself and is supported through their mother tongue, Aromanian, a language spoken by

them for more than 2000 years.

Language give the Macedo-Romanian a clear feeling of his identity, the feeling of

being someone else than X or to not be just X, but somebody else. It is obvious that, no

matter how some would define this type of communication used between them (language or

dialect), Macedo-Romanians persevere and manage to maintain it even in present days,

because it is theirs, it is their identity document in this world.

For at least two hundred years, renowned historians or scholars – Byzantines,

Dacians, Macedo-Romanians, Germans, English, Austrian, and others from various European

countries – identified Macedo-Romanians and Aromanian, wrote about them and their

language.

The cognizance of Romanists throughout the world does not leave room for doubts,

vouching for a definitive identification of Macedo-Romanians as a distinctive ethnic group,

in the Balkans, through their mother tongue.

Generally speaking, we cannot speak about a “national consciousness” of Macedo-

Romanians, but about a “ethnic consciousness” because an ethos, not so more a national idea

has always ruled over Macedo-Romanians, the idea of ethnic identity, the pride to be free,

individualized, without any bondages, living a dignifying life. He who leaves his language,

Aromanian, will face an awful punishment as the Macedo-Romanian bard, Constantin

Belimace, says:

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PhD Professor USAMV Cluj-Napoca

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PhD Lecturer Agora University, Faculty of Law and Economics