The University Library and the University Archives Department present a collaborative exhibition, showcasing part of the literary legacy of Prof. Stefan Mladenov – a university lecturer and scholar, who devoted his life to the study of the Bulgarian language and was one of the most passionate defenders of its purity.
Even as a student, Stefan Mladenov showed a remarkable interest in Bulgarian linguistics. In high school, he learned Latin, Greek, German, and Russian, and taught himself French. He continued to study foreign languages throughout his time at Sofia University and into his later years. According to his contemporaries, he had a remarkable proficiency in 30 languages, but his true calling was the Bulgarian language. Stefan Mladenov is the author of the first etymological dictionary of the Bulgarian language. He also compiled the first dictionary of foreign words in the Bulgarian language. He conducted numerous studies related to dialectology, presenting the dialects of Bulgarians from different parts of the country. Stefan Mladenov has also published in a number of foreign periodicals. According to Prof. Lyuben Desev: “This world-renowned scholar is a unique phenomenon in the history of science and education. He is the author of over 1,100 publications that enrich the Bulgarian and worlds literary heritage.”
The exhibition showcases publications by Prof. Stefan Mladenov, preserved in the University Library’s collection, in the fields of dialectology, etymology, lexicology, historical grammar, history of the Bulgarian language, comparative and general linguistics.
Highlights of the exhibition include his internationally recognized work, accompanied by a map, “Geschichte der bulgarischen Sprache”(History of the Bulgarian Language), published in 1929, as well as personal documents, stored in the University Archives.
The exhibition can be viewed until the 12th of January, 2026, during the working hours of the Central University Library.
