Is the Moldovan language a real linguistic entity or a Soviet invention?
In short: For decades, a fierce political battle has raged over whether a specific 'Moldovan' language exists. While some see it as a distinct identity, others argue it is an artificial construct designed to separate a people from their Romanian roots. The truth lies in a complex web of shifting constitutions and changing borders.
The debate over the name of the language spoken in Moldova is deeply intertwined with the region's political history. During the Soviet era, 'Moldavian' was officially recognized as a distinct Romance language, a move intended to create a separate identity from Romania. This period saw the use of a Cyrillistic script, derived from Russian, which was standardized in the Soviet Union and is still used today in the breakaway region of Transnistria.
Following independence, the linguistic landscape has been volatile. The 1991 Declaration of Independence used the name 'Romanian,' yet the 1994 constitution, passed under a Communist government, established 'Moldovan' as the official language. This tension persisted for decades, with various leaders attempting to revert or maintain the name. In 2003, the Moldovan parliament even passed a law defining both terms as 'glottonyms' for the same language.
A significant move towards using 'Romanian' has occurred lately. Following a 2013 verdict by Moldova's Constitutional Court, the Declaration of Independence now overrides the constitution, making the term Romanian officially recognised. This was solidified on 16 March 2023, when Parliament approved a law to replace 'Moldovan' with 'Romanian' in all legislative texts. President Maia Sandu promulgated this law on 22 March 2023.
Despite these legal changes, linguistic identity remains divided by geography and education. While highly educated citizens and residents of the capital, Chișinău, largely use the term 'Romanian,' many rural populations still identify their native tongue as 'Moldovan.' This reflects a long-standing historical conservatism, where different political entities and eras have shaped how people perceive their own speech.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Moldovan language
- Also: Wikidata — Romanian · CC0
- Also: Wikidata — Moldovan · CC0
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