Gheg Albanian
Encyclopedia
Variety (linguistics)
In sociolinguistics a variety, also called a lect, is a specific form of a language or language cluster. This may include languages, dialects, accents, registers, styles or other sociolinguistic variation, as well as the standard variety itself...
of Albanian
Albanian language
Albanian is an Indo-European language spoken by approximately 7.6 million people, primarily in Albania and Kosovo but also in other areas of the Balkans in which there is an Albanian population, including western Macedonia, southern Montenegro, southern Serbia and northwestern Greece...
. The other one is Tosk
Tosk Albanian
Tosk is the southern dialect of the Albanian language. The line of demarcation between Tosk and Gheg is the Shkumbin River. Tosk is the basis of the standard Albanian language.- Tosks :...
, on which standard Albanian
Albanian language
Albanian is an Indo-European language spoken by approximately 7.6 million people, primarily in Albania and Kosovo but also in other areas of the Balkans in which there is an Albanian population, including western Macedonia, southern Montenegro, southern Serbia and northwestern Greece...
is based. The dividing line between these two varieties is the Shkumbin River, which winds its way through central Albania
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
.
Gheg is spoken in Northern Albania, Kosovo
Kosovo
Kosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...
, parts of the Republic of Macedonia
Republic of Macedonia
Macedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...
, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
and Montenegro
Montenegro
Montenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
, and by the Albanians of southern Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
(mostly the cities of Preševo
Preševo
Preševo , is a town and municipality in the Pčinja District of southern Serbia, bordering Republic of Macedonia. It is the largest town of the region known as the Preševo valley, and the cultural center of Albanians in Central Serbia....
, Bujanovac
Bujanovac
Bujanovac is a town and municipality in Pčinja District of southern Serbia, located at the South Morava basin.It is known for its source of mineral water, so it is also known as Bujanovačka Banja ....
, and Medveđa), . It is also spoken in parts of Sicily and southern Italy.
Subdialects
Gheg has several subdialects, notably:- Southern GegSouthern GegSouthern Geg is a subdialect of Gheg Albanian, one of the two major dialects of the Albanian language. It is spoken in central Albania and western Macedonia, while its Elbasan variant is the subdialect, on which Standard Albanian was based from 1916 to 1952....
spoken in AlbaniaAlbaniaAlbania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
(DurrësDurrës CountyThe County of Durrës is one of the 12 counties of Albania. It consists of the districts Durrës and Krujë and its capital is Durrës. The city is 40 minutes away from Tirana by car. It has the largest sea port in Albania....
, ElbasanElbasan CountyThe County of Elbasan is one of the 12 counties of Albania. It consists of the districts Elbasan, Gramsh, Librazhd and Peqin and its capital is Elbasan.Much of Elbasan's eastern border is with the Republic of Macedonia...
, TiranëTiranë CountyThe County of Tirana is one of the 12 counties of Albania. It consists of the districts Kavajë and Tirana and its capital is Tirana. It has 800,347 inhabitants and with that it has the largest number of people of the Counties of Albania.-History:...
) and western MacedoniaRepublic of MacedoniaMacedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...
- Central Gheg, a subdialect of southern Geg (TiranëTiranaTirana is the capital and the largest city of Albania. Modern Tirana was founded as an Ottoman town in 1614 by Sulejman Bargjini, a local ruler from Mullet, although the area has been continuously inhabited since antiquity. Tirana became Albania's capital city in 1920 and has a population of over...
, KrujëKrujëKrujë is a town in north central Albania and the capital of the municipality and the Krujë District. It has a population of about 15,900. Located between Mount Krujë and the Ishëm River, the city is only 20 km from the capital of Albania, Tirana....
, BurrelBurrel, AlbaniaBurrel is a city in northern Albania, 91 km from Tirana. It is the centre of the District of Mat.The city's population is 15,539 . Burrel is one of the largest districts in Albania. It is also known among Albanians as the "Land of Kings", as Gjon Kastrioti, the father of George Kastrioti,...
)
- Central Gheg, a subdialect of southern Geg (Tiranë
- Northwestern Gheg (ShkodërShkodërShkodër , is a city located on Lake of Shkoder in northwestern Albania in the District of Shkodër, of which it is the capital. It is one of the oldest and most historic towns in Albania, as well as an important cultural and economic centre. Shkodër's estimated population is 90,000; if the...
, VermoshVermoshVërmosh is the northernmost village of Albania, a rural part of the Kelmend municipality, District of Malësi e Madhe.-Geography:...
, SelcëSelcëSelcë is a settlement in the Kelmend municipality, Malësi e Madhe District, Shkodër County, northern Albania....
, VukëlVukëlVukël is a settlement in the Kelmend municipality, Malësi e Madhe District, Shkodër County, northern Albania.Vukel is one of the four original villages of Kelmend. Three of these villages, Seltsa, Niktsi, and Vukli are located in the Kelmend Commune. Boga is located in Shkreli Comune. ...
, LëpushëLëpushëLëpushë is a settlement in the Kelmend municipality, Malësi e Madhe District, Shkodër County, northern Albania....
, NikçNikçNikç is a settlement in the Kelmend municipality, Malësi e Madhe District, Shkodër County, northern Albania....
, TamarëTamarëTamarë is a settlement in the Kelmend municipality Malësi e Madhe District, Shkodër County, northern Albania....
, TuziTuziTuzi is a town in the Podgorica municipality, Montenegro, located along a main road between the city of Podgorica and the Albanian border crossing, just a few kilometers north of Lake Skadar. The exact location of Tuzi is...
, UlqinUlcinjUlcinj is a coastal resort town and municipality in Montenegro. The town of Ulcinj has a population of 10,828 of which the majority are Albanians...
, TivarBar, MontenegroBar is a coastal town in Montenegro. It has a population of 17,727...
, PlavPlavPlav Plav Plav (Montenegrin, (Albanian: Plav) is a town in north-eastern Montenegro. It has a population of 3,615 (2003 census).Plav is the centre of the municipality (population of 13,805),-Geography:...
ë, GuciaGusinjeGusinje is a small town in Montenegro. According to the 2003 census, the town has a population of 1,704.-History:The history and origins of Gusinje are unknown prior to the Ottoman conquests. Before the Ottoman Turks took control of the region, Plav-Gusinje was under the control of various...
, PejëPecPeć or Pejë is a city and municipality in north-western Kosovo and Metohija - Serbia, and the administrative centre of the homonymous district. Governor of city is Ali Berisha....
, Gjakovë, PrizrenPrizrenPrizren is a historical city located in southern Kosovo. It is the administrative center of the eponymous municipality and district.The city has a population of around 131,247 , mostly Albanians...
) - Eastern Gheg (PeshkopiPeshkopiPeshkopi is a city in Dibër District, Dibër County, northeastern Albania.It is located away from Tirana, the capital of Albania, and from the Macedonian border. It is situated at 41°40'N and 20°25'. It sits above sea level. In the 2004 census, there were approximately 14,100 residents. It is...
, DibërDebarDebar is a city in the western part of the Republic of Macedonia, near the border with Albania, on the road from Struga to Gostivar. It is the seat of Debar Municipality.-Geography:...
, TetovëTetovoTetovo is a city in the northwestern part of Macedonia, built on the foothills of Šar Mountain and divided by the Pena River.The city covers an area of at above sea level, with a population of 86,580 citizens in the municipality. Tetovo is home to the State University of Tetovo and South East...
, GostivarGostivarGostivar , is a city in the Republic of Macedonia, located in the upper Polog valley region. It is one of the largest municipalities in the country with a population of 81,042, and the town also covers . Gostivar has good road and railway connections with the other cities in the region, such as...
, VelesiVeles (city)Veles is a city in the center of the Republic of Macedonia on the Vardar river. The city of Veles is the seat of Veles Municipality.-Name:The city's name was Vylosa in Ancient Greek and before the Balkan Wars, it was a township with the name Köprülü in the Üsküp sandjak, Ottoman empire for 600...
, PrilepPrilepPrilep is the fourth largest city in the Republic of Macedonia. It has a population of 66,246 citizens. Prilep is known as "the city under Marko's Towers" because of its proximity to the towers of Prince Marko.-Name:...
) - Northeastern Gheg (ShkupiSkopjeSkopje is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Macedonia with about a third of the total population. It is the country's political, cultural, economic, and academic centre...
, KumanovaKumanovoKumanovo is a city in the Republic of Macedonia and is the seat of Kumanovo Municipality which is the largest municipality in the country. Municipal institutions include a city council, mayor and other administrative bodies.-Name:...
, KaçanikKacanikKačanik or Kaçanik is a town and municipality in southern Kosovo, in the Uroševac district. The municipality covers an area of , including the town of Kačanik and 31 villages. It has a population of approximately 33,454...
, SharriDragašDragaš is a town and municipality in the Prizren district of southern Kosovo. The population of the town is approximately 33,584, that of the whole municipality is estimated at 33,584...
, GjilaniGnjilaneGnjilane or Gjilan is a city and municipality in eastern Kosovo. It is the administrative center of the District of Gjilan. It is famous for having been recorded the lowest temperature in Kosovo with on 25 January 1963.-Name and history:...
, PreshevëPreševoPreševo , is a town and municipality in the Pčinja District of southern Serbia, bordering Republic of Macedonia. It is the largest town of the region known as the Preševo valley, and the cultural center of Albanians in Central Serbia....
, BujanovcBujanovacBujanovac is a town and municipality in Pčinja District of southern Serbia, located at the South Morava basin.It is known for its source of mineral water, so it is also known as Bujanovačka Banja ....
) - Northern Gheg (PrishtinëPristinaPristina, also spelled Prishtina and Priština is the capital and largest city of Kosovo. It is the administrative centre of the homonymous municipality and district....
, MitrovicëKosovska MitrovicaKosovska Mitrovica , is a city and municipality in northern Kosovo. It is the administrative centre of the homonymous district....
), and former Albanian populated territories of Nish Sanjak (NishNišNiš is the largest city of southern Serbia and third-largest city in Serbia . According to the data from 2011, the city of Niš has a population of 177,972 inhabitants, while the city municipality has a population of 257,867. The city covers an area of about 597 km2, including the urban area,...
, VranjëVranjeVranje is a city and municipality located in southern Serbia. In 2011 the city has total population of 82,782, while the urban area has 54,456...
, ToplicëToplica DistrictThe Toplica District expands in the southern part of Serbia. It has a population of 90,600 and has been named after the river Toplica. Seat of the District is in the city of Prokuplje.-Municipalities:It encompasses the municipalities of:*Prokuplje*Blace...
). - Preshevan Albanian (PreshevëPreševoPreševo , is a town and municipality in the Pčinja District of southern Serbia, bordering Republic of Macedonia. It is the largest town of the region known as the Preševo valley, and the cultural center of Albanians in Central Serbia....
, BujanocBujanovacBujanovac is a town and municipality in Pčinja District of southern Serbia, located at the South Morava basin.It is known for its source of mineral water, so it is also known as Bujanovačka Banja ....
)
Oral
| IPA International Phonetic Alphabet The International Phonetic Alphabet "The acronym 'IPA' strictly refers [...] to the 'International Phonetic Association'. But it is now such a common practice to use the acronym also to refer to the alphabet itself that resistance seems pedantic... | Written as |
|---|---|
| [ə] | ë (nër) |
| [a] | a (dash) |
| [ɑ] | â (prâpë) |
| [ɒ] | ä (knäqët) |
| [e] | e (derë) |
| [ɛ] | ê (mênôj) |
| [i] | i (dritë) |
| [o] | o (kos) |
| [u] | u (kur) |
| [y] | y (shykyr) |
| [ɔ] | ô (dôrë) |
Nasalized
| IPA International Phonetic Alphabet The International Phonetic Alphabet "The acronym 'IPA' strictly refers [...] to the 'International Phonetic Association'. But it is now such a common practice to use the acronym also to refer to the alphabet itself that resistance seems pedantic... | Written as |
|---|---|
| [ĩ] | ĩ |
| [ɛ̃] | ẽ |
| [ɑ̃] | ã |
| [ɔ̃] | õ (some dialects) |
| [ỹ] | ỹ |
| [ũ] | ũ (hũna) |
Differences between dialects
| Standard | Toskësisht | Gegënisht | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shqipëri | Shqipëri | Shqypní | Albania |
| një | një | nji / njâ | one |
| nëntë | nëntë | nândë | nine |
| është | është | âsht / â | is |
| bëj | bëj | bâj | I do |
| emër | emër | êmën | name |
| pjekuri | pjekuri | pjekuni | mellowness |
| gjendje | gjëndje | gjêndje | state, condition |
| zog | zok | zog | bird |
| mbret | mbret | mret/regj | king |
| për të punuar | për të punuar | me punue | to work |
| rërë | rërë | rânë | sand |
| qenë | qënë | kjênë / kânë | to be |
| dëllinjë | enjë | bërshê | juniper |
| baltë | llum | lloq | mud |
| cimbidh | mashë | danë | fire-iron |
| mundem | mundem | mûj | I can |
| vend | vënd | ven | place |
| dhelpër | dhelpër | skile/dhelpën | fox |