Kostandin Kristoforidhi
Encyclopedia
Kostandin Nelko Kristoforidhi (1826–1895) was an Albanian translator and scholar. He is mostly known for having translated into Albanian the New Testament for the first time in the gheg Albanian
dialect in 1872. He also provided a translation in tosk Albanian
in 1879 thereby improving the 1823 tosk version of Vangjel Meksi
. By providing translation in both dialects, he has the merit of founding the basis of the unification of both dialects into a national language.
and from 1847 studied at the Zosimea Greek college in Ioannina
, where he helped Johann Georg von Hahn
learn Albanian
and write a German
-Albanian dictionary
.
He went to Istanbul
in 1857, and drafted a Memorandum for the Albanian language. He stayed in Malta
until 1860 in a Protestant seminary
, finishing the translation of The New Testament in the Tosk and Gheg dialects. He was helped by Nikolla Serreqi from Shkodër
with the Gheg version of the Testament. Nikolla Serreqi was also the propulsor for the use of the Latin alphabet, which had already been used by the early writers of the Albanian literature and Kristoforidhi embraced the idea of a Latin alphabet.
He went to Tunis
, where he worked as a teacher until 1865, when a representant of the British and Foreign Bible Society
contracted him to work for the company to produce Bible translations into Albanian. He published in 1866 the first Gheg translation of the four Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles
; for the many years to come, he continued his work, publishing in the Tosk and Gheg dialects The Psalms
(1868, 1869); The New Testament (1879, 1869), Genesis and Exodus (Tosk, 1880); Deuteronomy
(Tosk, 1882); The Proverbs and the Book of Isaiah (Tosk, 1884).
His most important work, Lexikon tis Alvanikis glossis , was published in Athens
, Greece
, in 1904, 25 years after it had been drafted by Kristoforidhi and after his death. It was written in the Greek alphabet.
Gheg Albanian
Gheg is one of the two major varieties of Albanian. The other one is Tosk, on which standard Albanian is based. The dividing line between these two varieties is the Shkumbin River, which winds its way through central Albania....
dialect in 1872. He also provided a translation in tosk Albanian
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 :...
in 1879 thereby improving the 1823 tosk version of Vangjel Meksi
Vangjel Meksi
Vangjel Meksi was an Albanian physician, writer, and translator. One-time personal physician to Ali Pasha, the 19th-century Albanian ruler of the Pashalik of Yanina, Meksi produced the first translation of the New Testament into Albanian with the help and sponsorship of the British and Foreign...
. By providing translation in both dialects, he has the merit of founding the basis of the unification of both dialects into a national language.
Life
He was born in ElbasanElbasan
Elbasan is a city in central Albania. It is located on the Shkumbin River in the District of Elbasan and the County of Elbasan, at...
and from 1847 studied at the Zosimea Greek college in Ioannina
Ioannina
Ioannina , often called Jannena within Greece, is the largest city of Epirus, north-western Greece, with a population of 70,203 . It lies at an elevation of approximately 500 meters above sea level, on the western shore of lake Pamvotis . It is located within the Ioannina municipality, and is the...
, where he helped Johann Georg von Hahn
Johann Georg von Hahn
Johann Georg von Hahn was an Austrian diplomat, philologist and specialist in Albanian history, language and culture....
learn 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...
and write a German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
-Albanian dictionary
Dictionary
A dictionary is a collection of words in one or more specific languages, often listed alphabetically, with usage information, definitions, etymologies, phonetics, pronunciations, and other information; or a book of words in one language with their equivalents in another, also known as a lexicon...
.
He went to Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
in 1857, and drafted a Memorandum for the Albanian language. He stayed in Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
until 1860 in a Protestant seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
, finishing the translation of The New Testament in the Tosk and Gheg dialects. He was helped by Nikolla Serreqi from Shkodër
Shkodër
Shkodër , 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...
with the Gheg version of the Testament. Nikolla Serreqi was also the propulsor for the use of the Latin alphabet, which had already been used by the early writers of the Albanian literature and Kristoforidhi embraced the idea of a Latin alphabet.
He went to Tunis
Tunis
Tunis is the capital of both the Tunisian Republic and the Tunis Governorate. It is Tunisia's largest city, with a population of 728,453 as of 2004; the greater metropolitan area holds some 2,412,500 inhabitants....
, where he worked as a teacher until 1865, when a representant of the British and Foreign Bible Society
British and Foreign Bible Society
The British and Foreign Bible Society, often known in England and Wales as simply as Bible Society, is a non-denominational Christian Bible society with charity status whose purpose is to make the Bible available throughout the world....
contracted him to work for the company to produce Bible translations into Albanian. He published in 1866 the first Gheg translation of the four Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles
Acts of the Apostles
The Acts of the Apostles , usually referred to simply as Acts, is the fifth book of the New Testament; Acts outlines the history of the Apostolic Age...
; for the many years to come, he continued his work, publishing in the Tosk and Gheg dialects The Psalms
Psalms
The Book of Psalms , commonly referred to simply as Psalms, is a book of the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Bible...
(1868, 1869); The New Testament (1879, 1869), Genesis and Exodus (Tosk, 1880); Deuteronomy
Deuteronomy
The Book of Deuteronomy is the fifth book of the Hebrew Bible, and of the Jewish Torah/Pentateuch...
(Tosk, 1882); The Proverbs and the Book of Isaiah (Tosk, 1884).
His most important work, Lexikon tis Alvanikis glossis , was published in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, in 1904, 25 years after it had been drafted by Kristoforidhi and after his death. It was written in the Greek alphabet.
Works
- Istoria e shkronjësë shënjtëruarë. (1872) Lexikon tēs albanikēs glōssēs (Greek-Albanian Dictionary) Grammatikē tēs glossēs kata tēn toskikēn dialekton (1882)
- Abetare. (ABC-Primer, Gheg 1867, Tosk 1868)
Additional readings
- http://shqiptarortodoks.com/bibla/Kristoforidhi_gegerisht.htmlThe New Testament of Kristoforidhi (1872 publication in gheg AlbanianGheg AlbanianGheg is one of the two major varieties of Albanian. The other one is Tosk, on which standard Albanian is based. The dividing line between these two varieties is the Shkumbin River, which winds its way through central Albania....
)] - http://shqiptarortodoks.com/bibla/dhiata_e_re.htmlThe New Testament of Kristoforidhi (1872 publication in tosk AlbanianTosk AlbanianTosk 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 :...
)] - http://shqiptarortodoks.com/bibla/Te-berete.htmlenesis, translation of Kristoforidhi (1889 publication in tosk AlbanianTosk AlbanianTosk 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 :...
)] - Kostandin Kristoforidhi e la biblia Albanese. In: Besa. Nr. 193, Jg. 2007. S. 2–7.