Unraveling Albanian Heritage: The Global Quest to Understand a Unique Identity
How Foreign Scholars Have Shaped the Study of Albanian Language, Culture, and History
“Votra Magazine” is dedicated to highlighting the significant contributions made by both foreign and Albanian scholars to the field of Albanology—the rigorous study of the Albanian language, literature, art, and culture. Our focus is on the diverse and extensive research efforts that have illuminated various facets of Albanian identity. We deeply respect the relentless dedication of these scholars, whose work dates back as far as the 15th and 16th centuries. Their commitment to preserving and analyzing Albania’s linguistic heritage, traditions, and customs ensures that these elements remain immortalized and are represented with dignity within the broader tapestry of history. We invite you to join us in this profound exploration.
Albanology: A Comprehensive Exploration of Albanian Identity
Albanology is a rich and interdisciplinary branch of the humanities that focuses on the extensive study of the Albanian language, customs, literature, art, culture, and history. By integrating methodologies from literature, linguistics, archaeology, history, and cultural studies, Albanology seeks to provide a holistic understanding of the Albanian people and their heritage. At the core of this scholarly pursuit is the Albanian language, which serves as the foundation for much of the inquiry within this field.
The Timeless Appeal of the Albanian Language Among International Researchers
The study of Albanology has its roots in the pioneering works and observations of early scholars who sought to uncover the origins and distinctiveness of the Albanian language and people. Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, through his correspondence on the Celtic origins of the Illyrians, laid the groundwork for further scholarly exploration. Johann Erich Thunmann later expanded on this foundation by advocating for the indigenous nature of the Albanians. He provided one of the first comprehensive histories of the Albanian and Vlach languages, supporting the theory of Illyrian descent.
Austro-Hungarian diplomats and scholars, such as Johann Georg von Hahn and Theodor A. Ippen, were instrumental in advancing this early scholarship. Hahn, often regarded as the father of Albanian studies, supported the Pelasgian theory of Albanian origins. The influential work of philologist Franz Bopp in 1854 was crucial in recognizing the Indo-European roots of the Albanian language through meticulous etymological analysis.
The field continued to evolve with significant contributions from scholars like Dr. Karl Reinhold, who documented Arvanite folklore, and Holger Pedersen, who published folklore collected among Albanians in Corfu. Gustav Meyer further enhanced the understanding of Albanian’s connections within the Indo-European language family.
In the 20th century, the study of Albanology was further enriched by the efforts of Austro-Hungarian scholars such as Baron Nopcsa, Milan Šufflay, Konstantin Jireček, Lajos Thallóczy, and Carl Patsch. Their pioneering research was complemented by the contributions of Baroness Godin, Margaret Hasluck, Papas Petrota, Jesuit scholars Cordignano and Valentini, and German philologist Hans Krahe. Collectively, these scholars established a solid foundation for the continued study and appreciation of Albanian heritage on a global scale.
Global Scholars in Pursuit of Albanian Linguistic and Cultural Origins
- Gotfried Wilhelm Leibniz (1646-1717)
Gotfried Wilhelm Leibniz, the renowned German philosopher and polymath, extended his intellectual curiosity to the Albanian language, reflecting a broader Enlightenment-era interest in linguistic diversity. In a series of five letters exchanged between June 24, 1704, and March 15, 1715, with M. V. La Croze, the head librarian in Berlin, Leibniz raised probing questions regarding the origins of the Albanian language and its connections to other Indo-European languages. He emphasized the importance of distinguishing indigenous Albanian words from those borrowed from neighboring languages. Leibniz identified notable correspondences between Albanian and Germanic, Latin, and other languages, underscoring the distinctiveness of Albanian as a language separate from Hungarian, Greek, and Turkish. His intellectual engagement with the Albanian language also extended to a keen interest in acquiring the Latin-Albanian dictionary by Frang Bardhi and the works of Pjetër Budi, illustrating his commitment to understanding the language’s unique characteristics.
- Hans Erik Thunmann (1746-1778)
Hans Erik Thunmann, a pioneering Swedish historian and one of the earliest figures in Albanology, made significant contributions to the understanding of Albanian ethnogenesis. As a professor at the University of Halle in Germany, Thunmann’s engagement with students and merchants from Eastern and Southeastern Europe, including Albanians, spurred his interest in the region’s languages and histories. In his seminal work, *Investigations into the History of the Peoples of Eastern Europe* (1774), Thunmann embarked on one of the first systematic attempts to trace the origins of the Albanian people and their language. Drawing on historical sources from Greek, Latin, and Byzantine traditions, he argued that the medieval Albanians were direct descendants of the ancient Illyrians, who had resisted Romanization unlike their Daco-Thracian counterparts, and had maintained their presence in their native territories despite later migrations. Thunmann’s ethnolinguistic approach also included the study of the Kavaliot dictionary, provided to him by the learned Konstantin Xhehani from Voskopoja, which further enriched his analysis of the Albanian language. His work laid a critical foundation for the scientific study of Albanian identity, offering an early model of interdisciplinary research in ethnology and linguistics.
- Johann Georg von Hahn (1811-1869)
Johann Georg von Hahn, a German diplomat and preeminent Albanologist, was instrumental in establishing the academic study of Albanian culture and language. Born in Frankfurt am Main, Hahn served as the Austrian Vice-Consul in Ioannina from 1847 to 1850, where he immersed himself in the study of Albanian. His extensive travels across western Albania, culminating in his reach to Shkodra, allowed him to gather invaluable ethnographic and linguistic data. Hahn’s *Albanische Studien* (Albanian Studies), published in Vienna in 1854, is a foundational three-volume work that meticulously documents the continuity of ancient Illyrian place names within Albanian territories, underscoring the deep historical roots of the Albanian people. His subsequent work, *Reise durch die Gebiete des Drin und Vardar* (Journey through the Regions of Drin and Vardar, 1867), along with his studies on Greek and Albanian folklore, further solidified his legacy as a key figure in the study of Albanian ethno-linguistics.
- Franz Bopp (1791-1867)
Franz Bopp, a distinguished German linguist and the founding figure of comparative Indo-European linguistics, made pivotal contributions to the study of the Albanian language. As a professor at the University of Berlin, Bopp approached Albanian through the lens of comparative linguistics, examining its place within the broader Indo-European language family. His early work, presented to the Berlin Academy in 1843, analyzed Albanian numerals and pronouns, demonstrating their Indo-European origins. In 1855, Bopp published “On the Albanian Language in Relation to Its Linguistic Kinship”, offering a comprehensive historical analysis of Albanian grammar and lexicon. His research revealed numerous connections between Albanian and other Indo-European languages, conclusively positioning Albanian as an independent branch within this linguistic family. Bopp’s work remains a cornerstone in the historical linguistics of the Albanian language, providing essential insights into its development and connections to other languages.
- Dhimitër Kamarda
Dhimitër Kamarda, known in Italian as Demetrio Camarda, was an Italo-Arbëresh priest and a seminal figure in the scholarly study of the Albanian language. Born on October 23, 1821, in Hora e Arbëreshëvet, Kamarda was a prominent linguist and philologist of the 19th century who focused on both Arbëresh and Greek languages. He is celebrated for his pioneering efforts in systematizing the study of Arbëresh culture and language. His magnum opus, “Saggio di Grammatologia comparata sulla lingua albanese” (Essay on Comparative Grammar of the Albanian Language, 1864), was among the first to apply contemporary linguistic methodologies to the diachronic study of Albanian, paving the way for future research in this field. Kamarda’s scholarly pursuits were deeply intertwined with his nationalist sentiments, which ultimately led to his relocation to Livorno due to political pressures in Sicily. His other significant works, including “The General Albanian-Epirote Alphabe” and “Three Popular Albanian Songs of Epirus”, continue to be revered as foundational texts in the study of Albanian linguistics and folklore.
- Gustav Meyer (1850-1900)
Gustav Meyer, a German linguist of notable repute, made lasting contributions to the field of Albanology, particularly in establishing the Albanian language’s place within the Indo-European family. Born in the Prussian province of Silesia, Meyer pursued classical philology, Indo-European languages, and Sanskrit at the University of Breslau. His academic journey led him to several prestigious teaching positions, including at the University of Graz, where he continued his linguistic research. Meyer’s rigorous scholarship culminated in the publication of “Etymologisches Wörterbuch der albanesischen Sprache” (Etymological Dictionary of the Albanian Language, 1891), a comprehensive resource that remains central to Albanian linguistic studies. Meyer’s work definitively demonstrated the Indo-European roots of Albanian, earning him a prominent place in the annals of Albanian linguistic history, so much so that a school in Tirana is named in his honor.
- Eduard Schneider
Eduard Schneider, a French scholar, contributed to the study of Albanian through his work within the Ottoman administration in Shkodra. His book “The Pelasgians and Their Descendants” (1894) includes a detailed lexicon that presents Albanian as “the purest and most faithful echo of the Pelasgian language,” reflecting the linguistic continuity and heritage that Schneider believed linked ancient Pelasgians to modern Albanians.
- Holger Pedersen (1867-1953)
Holger Pedersen, a distinguished Danish linguist and professor at the University of Copenhagen, played a crucial role in advancing the study of the Albanian language within the broader context of Indo-European linguistics. Pedersen’s scientific pursuits were characterized by their breadth, encompassing studies on Armenian, Celtic, and other languages. His interest in Albanian led him to southern Albania in 1893, where he conducted field research that resulted in several influential publications, including “Contribution to the History of the Albanian Language” (1894) and “The Sounds of Albanian” (1897). Pedersen’s work, ”Texts with Dictionary” (1905), which features Albanian folk tales and songs, offers valuable insights into the language’s structure and its historical development. His research supported the theory that the Albanian language descended from Illyrian, thus contributing to the ongoing scholarly debate on Albanian linguistic origins.
- Kristian Sandfeld-Jensen (1873-1942)
Kristian Sandfeld-Jensen, a student of Holger Pedersen, made significant contributions to the comparative study of Balkan languages. As a professor of Romance studies at the University of Copenhagen, Sandfeld-Jensen was among the first to elucidate the linguistic affinities between Balkan languages, which he attributed to the long-term coexistence of these populations during the Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman periods. He identified Albanian as one of the oldest languages in the Balkans and as a key source of many unique grammatical and syntactical features in the region, such as the post-position of the definite article and the use of the subjunctive in place of the infinitive. Sandfeld-Jensen’s research reinforced the hypothesis of Albanian’s descent from Illyrian, contributing to the broader understanding of Balkan linguistic and cultural interconnections.
- Norbert Jokl (1877-1942)
Norbert Jokl, often referred to as the father of Albanology, was an Austrian scholar of Jewish origin whose work laid the foundation for modern Albanian studies. Born in Bzenec, Moravia, Jokl initially pursued a career in law before dedicating himself to linguistics, specializing in Indo-European, Slavic, and Romance languages.His scholarly focus shifted to Albanian in the early 20th century, a time when the language had yet to be extensively studied. Jokl’s research was groundbreaking, offering deep insights into the etymology and historical development of the Albanian language. His commitment to Albanology was such that he worked at the University of Vienna library until 1938, contributing significantly to the field even under the growing pressures of his time. Jokl’s legacy in Albanian linguistics is enduring, as his research continues to inform and inspire contemporary studies.
- Maximilian Lambertz (1882-1963)
Maximilian Lambertz, an Austrian linguist and folklorist, is highly regarded for his extensive contributions to the study of Albanian language and culture. His interest in Albanian was piqued during a journey through Greece, where he encountered Albanian shepherds speaking their native tongue.
This experience sparked his scientific curiosity, leading him to delve deeply into the dialects of the Arbëresh people of southern Italy. Lambertz’s work was distinguished by his methodical approach to Albanian folklore and mythology, which he researched during his visits to Albania as an emissary of the Vienna Academy of Sciences. His immersion in Albanian culture and his scholarly rigor resulted in seminal works on Albanian linguistics and ethnography.
After establishing himself in Leipzig, Lambertz continued his studies in Albanology, where he lectured at the university and produced some of his most influential works. Between 1954 and 1959, he published ”The Course of the Albanian Language”, a comprehensive three-volume series that remains a crucial reference for scholars in the field. Lambertz’s studies on Albanian proper names and popular beliefs provided substantial evidence supporting the thesis that Albanians are direct descendants of the Illyrians, further reinforcing the Albanian language’s roots in the ancient Illyrian tongue.
- Zef Skiroi (1865-1927)
Zef Skiroi, an Italian philologist of Albanian origin, is celebrated for his profound impact on the study of the Albanian language and culture. Like Dhimitër Kamarda, Skiroi was deeply inspired by the work of Gustav Meyer and was one of the leading figures in Albanology during his time. Along with his close friend Norbert Jokl, Skiroi contributed to a deeper understanding of the Albanian language, particularly through his comprehensive research and publications.
Skiroi’s work was instrumental in documenting and preserving the linguistic heritage of the Albanian people. His scholarly endeavors culminated in the publication of “The Albanian Language”, a seminal work released in Rome in 1932. This book remains a cornerstone in Albanian studies, reflecting Skiroi’s dedication to the systematic study of the language and his efforts to ensure that the rich cultural and linguistic traditions of the Albanian people were accurately recorded and analyzed.
These scholars—Leibniz, Thunmann, Hahn, Bopp, Kamarda, Meyer, Schneider, Pedersen, Sandfeld-Jensen, Jokl, Lambertz, and Skiroi—each made significant contributions to the field of Albanology, shaping the understanding of the Albanian language and culture within the broader context of European history and linguistics. Their pioneering work laid the foundations for the modern study of Albanian, and their collective legacy continues to influence scholars and researchers dedicated to exploring the rich heritage of the Albanian people.
“Votra Magazine” is committed to highlighting these invaluable contributions and ensuring that the rich tapestry of Albanian culture and history, as studied by these eminent scholars, remains accessible to both the academic community and the broader public.
Through their interdisciplinary approaches, these intellectuals have not only uncovered the linguistic and cultural roots of the Albanian nation but have also ensured that its history and identity are recognized and respected within the global academic community. ”Votra Magazine” honors this legacy by continuing to support and disseminate research in Albanology, fostering a deeper understanding of Albanian heritage around the world. Through such efforts, “Votra Magazine” seeks to keep the spirit of these scholars alive, ensuring that their work continues to inspire future generations of researchers and enthusiasts alike.
