History Of Bulgarian Language: 5+ Fascinating Facts

Have you ever wondered where the history of the Bulgarian language starts? If you’re on a mission to learn Bulgarian, studying its history not only adds depth to your language journey but also gives you insight into Bulgaria’s diverse culture. Thanks to its history, learners who wish to expand their linguistic skills or establish new connections with loved ones will gain a deeper understanding of the language’s beauty and complexity.

In this blog article, we’ll explore Bulgarian’s intriguing development and demonstrate how, with practice, you can become fluent in this Slavic language!

History Of Bulgarian Language: A Linguistic Melting Pot

Let’s begin with Bulgarian’s historic roots before exploring the language as it is today. Bulgarian belongs to the South Slavic language family, which is a subset of the larger Slavic language family that also includes Czech, Polish, Russian, and other languages. However, Bulgarian is distinct from its Slavic brethren in a few ways, and they come from its rich and varied past.

The Early Slavic Era

Proto-Slavic, the common ancestor language from which all Slavic languages descended, is where the history of the Bulgarian language starts. Speaking Proto-Slavic, the early Slavic tribes were a group of people that resided in Eastern Europe in the 5th and 6th centuries, especially in what is now Poland, Ukraine, and Belarus.

As they moved southward into the Balkans, these tribes encountered the early Bulgars and the Byzantine Empire, among other nations. This encounter profoundly shaped their language.

The Old Church Slavonic Effect

A few decades later, the development of Old Church Slavonic marks one of the most important turning points in the history of the Bulgarian language. In the ninth century, Christian missionaries Saints Cyril and Methodius created the Glagolitic alphabet to interpret sacred writings for Slavic-speaking peoples. As a result of their efforts, Old Church Slavonic became the region’s literary and liturgical language. This marked the first time a Slavic language was written down.

Bulgaria was the first nation to make Old Church Slavonic an official language in both religious and secular settings. This language, also referred to as Old Bulgarian, is the basis of the current Bulgarian language. Although other Slavic countries developed Old Church Slavonic independently, Bulgaria’s dialect proved essential to the linguistic advancement of the area.

Fun fact: The first Slavic language to be written down was Bulgarian! How awesome is that? You’ll be acquiring knowledge of a language rich in literary heritage!

Middle Bulgarian: A Transitional Era

The old Bulgarian evolved over time as a result of centuries of political unrest, invasions, and cultural changes. From the twelfth to the fifteenth century, a dialect known as Middle Bulgarian emerged. 

Due to the region’s connections with the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires, additional Greek, Turkish, and Latin loanwords entered the language during this period, resulting in changes to the lexicon and syntax.

One of the most significant developments during this period was the simplified noun case system. During its history, the Bulgarian language has lost most of its case endings, making it a little simpler for novices to understand, while many Slavic languages, such as Russian and Polish, have kept their intricate systems of noun declensions. This may be a relief if you’ve studied other Slavic languages already!

Modern Bulgarian: A Language For The People

The next major transformation in the history of the Bulgarian language came in the 18th and 19th centuries with the advent of Modern Bulgarian. More recently, Turkish played a significant role during Ottoman rule in Bulgaria (1396-1878), and so many words in everyday speech are loanwords. But this period also saw the beginning of the Bulgarian National Revival, which aimed to keep up Bulgarian culture and language despite being strangled by foreign oppressors.

This era witnessed the publication of the first modern Bulgarian grammar books and dictionaries and developed a sense of national literature. The Cyrillic alphabet, created by Sts. Cyril and Methodius, based on the earlier Glagolitic script, is a standardized alphabet used today.

Key Features Of Modern Bulgarian

• Simplified grammar: Unlike other Slavic languages, Bulgarian doesn’t use noun cases (except for pronouns), making it more accessible to learners.
• Definite articles: While most Slavic languages don’t have definite articles (the equivalent of “the” in English), Bulgarian uses suffixes attached to nouns to denote definiteness. For example, стол (stol) means “chair,” while столът (stolŭt) means “the chair.”
• Verbal system: Bulgarian’s verb system is rich in tenses, including several that no longer exist in other Slavic languages, such as the simple past and the perfect tenses.
• Vocabulary: Over time, Bulgarian vocabulary has absorbed words from neighboring languages, including Turkish, Greek, Russian, and French, creating a diverse and dynamic lexicon.

Why Learn Bulgarian?

If you got this far in the post, then maybe you are already considering learning Bulgarian. Perhaps your boyfriend is Bulgarian, and you want to be able to speak with his family, or you are just interested in learning the language. Whichever way you choose to look at it, studying the history of the Bulgarian language offers more than just personal cultural growth

Strengthening Relationships

Learning a language, however, is most joyously rewarding when it enables us to connect with others on a deeper level. If your relatives and friends speak Bulgarian, learning the language will help you build stronger bonds with them. Even if they speak English, showing that you’ve made the effort to learn Bulgarian will go a long way in gaining their respect and admiration.

Linguistic Flexibility

Well, you may realize that learning the history of Bulgarian will put your knowledge of other Slavic languages into supercharge mode if you have ever studied a language of the same family (Russian or Polish, for example). You will come across words, grammatical structures, and sounds that you are already familiar with. Bulgarian is your beginner Slavic language that will make later picking up of the others simple.

A Look At The Culture In The History Of The Bulgarian Language

Bulgaria has a long and fascinating cultural history, from its traditional folk music and customs to its literature and historical buildings, and learning Bulgarian will open many doors in this regard as well. Whether you are communicating with family members, traveling in Bulgaria, or reading the country’s literature, having a grasp of Bulgarian will enhance your experience.

May 24th: The Day Of Bulgarian Education, Culture And Slavonic Literature

The Day of Sts. Cyril and Methodius, of the Bulgarian alphabet, education and culture, and Slavonic literature, is a Bulgarian public holiday celebrated on 24 May. On this day, the work of the Slavic enlighteners Cyril and Methodius and Bulgarian enlightenment and culture, including the creation of the Cyrillic alphabet in the Preslav school of literature, is celebrated in Bulgaria. Saving the work of St. Cyril and Methodius, Bulgaria has earned the gratitude and respect not only of the Slavic peoples but also of the world. And this will be so as long as humanity puts true meaning into the words progress, culture, and humanity.

How Do You Say “History” In Bulgarian?

In Bulgarian, the word “history” translates as istoriya (История).

Vocabulary Related To The History Of The Bulgarian Language

FAQs About The History Of Bulgarian Language

1. Where Did The Bulgarian Language Originate?

As we mentioned, modern Bulgarian stems from Old Church Slavonic, also called Old Bulgarian, which developed from the literary tradition of SS Cyril and Methodius.

2. What Is The Closest Language To Bulgarian?

Macedonian is perhaps the closest language to Bulgarian.

3. Which Language Is Older, Bulgarian Or Russian?

Bulgarian is older than Russian in terms of its literary and linguistic history.

Wrapping Up: Your Bulgarian Language Journey Awaits!

Learning Bulgarian is more than just picking up a new language; it’s about connecting with the rich history of the Bulgarian language, its vibrant culture, and people who will appreciate your effort. From its roots in Proto-Slavic and Old Church Slavonic to its evolution into Modern Bulgarian, the history of the Bulgarian language is as fascinating as the language itself.

Whether you’re learning Bulgarian for love, travel, or personal growth, we believe that you’ll find it a rewarding experience. And with tools like the Ling app by your side, mastering Bulgarian can be fun, easy, and effective.

So why wait? Start your Bulgarian language adventure today and see where it takes you!