THE SERBIAN LANGUAGE – A BEACON OF CULTURAL HERITAGE

BIJELJINA, SEPTEMBER 7 /SRNA/ – The Serbian language, as a bearer of historical and cultural heritage, is much more than a means of communication, while the responsibility to preserve it is even greater in a time of globalization, rapid change and digitalization, said Serbian language professor Marko Lješević.

On the occasion of September 8 – International Literacy Day, Lješević told SRNA that educational institutions, cultural organisations, the media, and policymakers must work together to protect and nurture the Serbian language. “To pass it on with care and love, and to use it as a tool for education, creative expression, and cultural connection. By nurturing the Serbian language and literacy, we strengthen our community, preserve our identity, and shape a society that values its past, builds the present, and envisions the future,” Lješević emphasized. He pointed out that language is the foundation of every society and an essential value that defines the identity of a people, shapes individuals, and builds the future of a community. “Language goes beyond the basic ability to read and write – it is a means of expressing thoughts, feelings, and ideas, a tool for transmitting knowledge, values, and tradition, and a bridge that connects generations,” Lješević noted. He says that language opens the doors to education, enables critical thinking, and strengthens a society’s ability to grow, learn, and preserve its own culture. “The Serbian language, as our mother tongue and bearer of historical and cultural heritage, represents more than just a communication tool. It is a guardian of collective memory, identity, and a mirror of the community. Throughout the centuries, the Serbian language has been a means of preserving tradition, transmitting historical experiences, and fostering creativity that shapes the Serb people. Every word we utter, write, or read in our mother tongue carries with it the weight of heritage and the responsibility to preserve, nurture, and pass it on to future generations,” Lješević emphasized. He has pointed out that in an era of globalization, rapid change, and digital communication, preserving the Serbian language and literacy becomes an act of love for oneself, one’s community, and the heritage of our ancestors. “Education in the mother tongue lays the foundation for the development of critical thinking, creativity, and responsibility. It enables young people to develop the ability to understand themselves and the world around them, to preserve and grow cultural heritage, and to participate in a community that values knowledge, morality, and unity. The Serbian language, with its richness of expression, grammatical structure, and cultural symbols, provides the means to convey every thought, feeling, and idea with precision and beauty,” he emphasized. Lješević says that literacy and language are a bridge between past, present, and future generations. “Through them, we understand our roots and appreciate our own culture. Every word in the mother tongue is an opportunity to contribute to the preservation of cultural wealth, to the strengthening of the community, and to the shaping of a society that values education, creativity, and moral values,” he said. Lješević emphasized that the Serbian language is not just a means of communication – it is a beacon of Serb cultural heritage, a guide through the present, and a signpost for future generations. “By nurturing the language, we build a society that respects knowledge, culture, and unity – a society that recognizes the value of its roots and strives toward an educated and creative future,” Lješević concluded.