|
|
|
|
|
Illyrian LanguagesThe Illyrian languages are a group of Indo-European languages that were spoken in the western part of the Balkans in pre-Roman times. Around 230 BC the speakers of these languages were romanized (in some cases completely, as in the case of Dalmatian speakers). From the 7th century onwards, the surviving Illyrian languages began to lose ground to other languages spoken in the area, largely Slavic languages in the rural areas and the languages descended from vernacular Latin such as Dalmatian and Venetian in the urban areas. Today, the main source of authoritative information about the Illyrian languages consists of a few cited words and numerous examples of proper names, toponyms, and hydronyms. Since so little is known about these languages, when linguists encounter what they consider to be anomalies in their data, they humorously blame them on "Illyrian influences". Messapian, an extinct language of South-eastern Italy is believed by some scholars to be a dialect of Illyrian, based on the personal names found on the tomb inscriptions, though some scholars decline to identify Messapian specifically as an Illyrian language; yet most scholars admit a degree of relation. There is general agreement that Illyrian was probably closely related to the Venetic language once spoken in Northeastern Italy. Some linguists believe the modern Albanian language to be the survival of an Illyrian language, yet this is controversial. The majority of scholars and linguists consider Illyrian to have been a centum language, while Albanian is satem. The identification of Illyrian as centum is not unanimously accepted; objections being raised by those linguists who attempt to link Albanian with Illyrian. In general, Illyrian words from ancient sources suggest that Albanian and Illyrian lie on different branches of the Indo-European linguistic tree, though there are some possible correspondances between Illyrian and Albanian. Some examples of Illyrian names are Epicadus, Bato, Gentius, Temus, Pinnes/Pinnius, Monounios, Grabus, Epidius, Verzo, Zanatis. See also External link
|
 |
|
| Copyright 2005-2009 OnPedia.com. All Rights Reserved |
|
|