Boyan Angelov: Human philosophy is encoded in our language

published on 11/15/23 4:23 PM

Boyan Angelov in the studio of Radio Bulgaria

Photo: Krasimir Martinov, BNR

The oldest writers' organization in Europe - the Union of Bulgarian Writers - is marking 110 years since its founding with official festive events in Sofia. The current chairman of the union is Boyan Angelov - a Bulgarian poet, literary historian and critic, philosopher and public figure. His works have been translated in 38 countries. He himself translates from German, Russian, French and Greek. ‎

In an interview for Radio Bulgaria, Boyan Angelov reveals interesting moments from his creative path and from the history of the organization. ‎

"I was born in the town of Panagyurishte. I spent my childhood there, I graduated from high school there" he says. "When I was doing my university studies, I had to make a pause of one year and in that period I became a teacher in the high school I myself graduated. The founder of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Marin Drinov, and the first Bulgarian literary critic, Nesho Bonchev, whose name the gymnasium bears today, were both students and teachers in it."

Nesho Bonchev High School in Panagyurishte

In addition to being a philologist, Boyan Angelov is also a Doctor of Philosophical Sciences, he has worked as editor-in-chief of various periodicals, he was also part of the Committee for Radio and Television, when the two electronic media operated together. In the period 1998 - 2005, Boyan Angelov studied and worked in Switzerland - he graduated from the Academy of Pedagogical Sciences and taught at universities in Basel and Lausanne. ‎

"My memories of Switzerland are nothing short of superb. Along with the many friendships I made there, a half-ruined castle that I came across by chance left a strong impression on me," says Boyan Angelov. "Later, I realized that this place for the Swiss people is as Mount Shipka is for us. In this fortress, on July 22, 1499, a battle took place between the troops of the united Swiss cantons and the Holy Roman Empire. The Swiss army won the victory, but from then to this day they have not waged a single war, that is, they keep their neutrality. And in this place I realized what it is to be a good person - to know that neither you, nor your father, nor your grandfather, nor your great-grandfather ever shot people. This is perhaps the biggest lesson I learned there - if there is such a place in the world, then nothing is lost." ‎

The ruins of Dorneck Castle near the town of Dornach, Switzerland

In Switzerland, where four official languages are spoken, Boyan Angelov understands how important it is for a person to have national self-esteem, as well as to value their own language. He is one of the people who advocates the thesis that a law for the protection and use of the Bulgarian language is necessary. ‎

"We are not talking about a law to change the language itself, but a law to preserve the language and the way it is used. Human philosophy is encoded in a language. It is not by chance that the difference between an animal and a human is precisely in articulate speech. Goethe speaks of the so-called intermaxillary bone which produces articulate sounds, which are the beginning of every language. From here, a distinction is already made between intelligent man and animals." ‎

In 2012, two years before taking over the Union of Bulgarian Writers, Boyan Angelov became the director of the Bulgarian Writer publishing house, which at that time was in an unenviable financial condition. ‎‎

"The publishing house has a long tradition. Established in 1947, the greatest Bulgarian poets and writers have worked or published books in it. A reference in the US Library of Congress shows that it has about 3,800 titles of Bulgarian Writer Publishing House. There is no other Bulgarian publishing house that appears with so many titles there", he explains.

In a time of confused values, how can we recognize the genuine from the vulgar in literature, and hence its mission, directions, goals? ‎

"It's very good that Bulgarian literature is somewhat more liberated today, but I think that literature that is politically oriented is beginning to be tolerated again, and this is not healthy for Bulgarian society", says Boyan Angelov. "Politics is always opportunistic, it always serves only one part of society.” ‎

How can today's time inspire a creator?‎

"The time is fruitful for anyone who wants to devote himself to literature. Why? Because today young people do not have the restrictions that existed before. They can now travel and live anywhere, study, get acquainted with foreign cultures. This is a huge advantage and we should be grateful. But it is important to pay more attention to people as individuals, to their achievements. And not to be flooded with negative news. Because many positive things are happening in Bulgaria, but only a narrow circle of people learns about them. There are so many talented people in Bulgaria and they should be the driving force of our society". ‎

Photos: Krasimir Martinov, wikipedia.org, Union of Bulgarian Writers

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