DOCSLIB.ORG

Local Institutions and Multicultural Identities. Aromanians in Mihail Kogălniceanu Commune, Constanţa

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Local Institutions and Multicultural Identities. Aromanians in Mihail Kogălniceanu Commune, Constanţa Title: “Local Institutions and Multicultural Identities. Aromanians in Mihail Kogălniceanu Commune, Constanța” Author: Stelu Şerban How to cite this article: Şerban, Stelu. 2009. “Local Institutions and Multicultural Identities. Aromanians in Mihail Kogălniceanu Commune, Constanța”. Martor 14: 49‐63. Published by: Editura MARTOR (MARTOR Publishing House), Muzeul Țăranului Român (The Museum of the Romanian Peasant) URL: http://martor.muzeultaranuluiroman.ro/archive/martor‐14‐2009/ Martor (The Museum of the Romanian Peasant Anthropology Review) is a peer‐reviewed academic journal established in 1996, with a focus on cultural and visual anthropology, ethnology, museum studies and the dialogue among these disciplines. Martor review is published by the Museum of the Romanian Peasant. Its aim is to provide, as widely as possible, a rich content at the highest academic and editorial standards for scientific, educational and (in)formational goals. Any use aside from these purposes and without mentioning the source of the article(s) is prohibited and will be considered an infringement of copyright. Martor (Revue d’Anthropologie du Musée du Paysan Roumain) est un journal académique en système peer‐review fondé en 1996, qui se concentre sur l’anthropologie visuelle et culturelle, l’ethnologie, la muséologie et sur le dialogue entre ces disciplines. La revue Martor est publiée par le Musée du Paysan Roumain. Son aspiration est de généraliser l’accès vers un riche contenu au plus haut niveau du point de vue académique et éditorial pour des objectifs scientifiques, éducatifs et informationnels. Toute utilisation au‐delà de ces buts et sans mentionner la source des articles est interdite et sera considérée une violation des droits de l’auteur. Martor is indexed by EBSCO and CEEOL. 49 Local Institutions and Multicultural Identities Aromanians in Mihail Kog`lniceanu Commune, Constan]a Stelu {erban Institute for South-East European Studies, Bucharest The aim of this article is to approach the and from most Romanians’ identity. The aware- change process related to some characteristic as- ness of these differences is the engine of the pects of Aromanian identity in Mihail Kog`lni- change process of the collective identity of the Aro- ceanu, a fairly large commune lying 30 km from manians from Romania. Constan]a Municipality. Shortly after 1878, the The study of Aromanian populations and cul- commune was mainly inhabited by the descen- ture has grown and developed, ranging from histo- dants of the colonised Transylvanian shepherds of riographic approaches or simple travel journals to Orthodox religion. Orthodox Aromanians, Muslim linguistic analyses and, more recently, anthropo- Tartars as well as small groups of Roma and Ger- logical field research. Therefore, when referring to mans live together with the majority group. There Aromanians, we ought to distinguish the way in is also a Roman-Catholic community here made up which different authors have gathered, analysed of Germans and Romanians. and interpreted data about them and also the The context of the present research is set by premises which underlie some general conclusions. the local political and civic institutions. I will show As a matter of fact, there is a substantial biblio- how the group of Aromanians in Mihail Kog`lni- graphy about Aromanians which includes many ceanu redefines its identity by means of such in- fields, as shown by a brief overview (Kahl 2006: stitutions1. The traditional values codified for 227-318). Thus, I agree with pertinent opinions ac- many generations in the geographical area where cording to which the current research of Aro- Aromanians originated are being eroded, making manian culture and populations and, particularly, room for attitudes and values which are not gene- of their ethnic identity can only be done by con- rated by the pressure of national society but by the flating field and anthropological research and the Aromanians’ self-perception within it. study of the national histories on whose territories It is important to bear in mind that, unlike Aromanians lived or still live (Trifon 2005: 22). other groups with a weaker sense of collective Another basic premise of the article is that of identity that have recently settled in different lo- differentiating the Aromanian communities, func- calities of Dobrudja2, Aromanians arrived in Ro- tion of the social and cultural milieus in which the mania with a strong attachment and conscience of last generations of Aromanians lived. Starting from the group to which they belong. Their identity was social and economic adaptability, a seemingly ge- different and is still different from local identities neral feature of Aromanians (Fatse 1984, Trifon 50 Stelu {erban 2005: 25), the last Aromanian communities it to use whenever they make choices that affect formed either by immigration (USA, Western Eu- the group’s identity. In the case of the Aromanians rope, Romania) or by natural migration from the in Mihail Kog`lniceanu the options that underlie rural to the urban environment in the original so- the foundation of the family, an aspect of tradition ciety, acquire even more striking features meant to that is most difficult to change, are based on dif- differentiate them. For instance, we can compare ferent rules when it comes to the last generations the conclusions drawn by anthropological re- of Aromanians. The sources of these changes searchers about the Aromanians in the USA (Fatse range from individual biographies and recent his- 1984)3 to those about the Aromanians in Albania tory (deportation, for example) to the economic (Schwander-Sievers 1998). The blatant differences and social success hailed by Aromanians within stem from the way in which the Aromanians’ tradi- Romanian society. tional identity founded on a common language and I will also consider the manner in which the on their belonging to a more or less specified Aromanians’ local involvement in political and Balkan space has changed when in touch with the civic institutions and organisations influence their institutions and values of the societies inhabited by identity-forging model. The two dimensions are the last generations of Aromanians. In this article I important and interconnected. Finally, I will insist am referring straightforwardly to this differentia- on the connection between them. tion, though it be based on one single case whose Some data on Mihail Kog`lniceanu locality are representativeness can be a subject for debate. necessary. The number of the inhabitants has per- The third premise I start from is theoretical by manently changed due to both natural migration excellence. The identity of a human group derives and especially the successive settlement on its ter- from the collective choices made by the members ritory of different populations belonging to diffe- of this group. This is why the immediate cultural rent ethnic groups (see Table 1). and institutional context is of paramount impor- The Nogay Tartars were the first inhabitants of tance. The values and institutions that distinguish Caramurat, the original name of the commune. the group are either preserved or reshuffled by a After the Czarist occupation of the Crimean Penin- clash with the values and institutions of the society sula (1783), many Tartars took refuge in Dobrudja. in which the group lives. Tradition provides the This is why most Tartar ethnics have chosen this cultural material needed for forging the identity of place of residence since the eighteenth century. the group to the extent to which the members of A significant number of ethnic Germans com- the group assimilate it, become aware of it and put ing from the southern part of Bessarabia have set- Table 1. The ethnic structure (The National Institute of Statistics and the City Hall of M. Kog`lniceanu commune – 2002). Local Institutions and Multicultural Identities 51 tled here since 1850, but after 1940, following the Aromanians, be they Farsherots or Cipani, and the treaties signed by Romania and Germany, the Ger- premises of field research must be changed. man ethnics came back to their native country. There were only 10-15 families left in the com- Traditional values and institutions. mune and the households left by those who were Family and marriage dislocated were occupied by Aromanians and Ro- A set of factors with a decisive influence on the manians. Only 18 Germans are currently living in moulding of the Aromanians’ identity is linked Kog`lniceanu compared to 1940, when their num- with the increase in the number of mixed mar- ber reached 1527. riages, with the models and rules that intervene in Attracted by the propitious climate of Dobrudja the cohabitation of the families resulted from and by its fertile agricultural lands, the number of these marriages (Plecadite 2002). As I said, the inhabitants increased in the commune after 1878 Aromanian group preserves traditional rules for es- due to the settlement of Romanians coming from tablishing kindred and matrimonial relationships. villages of southern Transylvania (S`cele, S`li[te, The genealogical surveys conducted as part of the Valea Tili[ca, Gali[tea, R`[inari, Poenari, R`deni). interviews allowed me to determine the change of The Roma coming from Medgidia between 1951 matrimonial rules over time. and 1952 were the last settlers in the commune. We must say that the genealogical memory of Initially, their move to Kog`lnicenu brought only 3 the Aromanians goes back four generations. Ne- families, yet their number has substantially in- vertheless, elderly subjects (over 70 years of age) creased at present (43 families in 1992)4. preserve the same kinship memory prevailing in The Aromanian group in Mihail Kog`lniceanu the Greek villages of their origin. As a rule, the so- is part of the branch of Farsherots. The inhabi- cial control related to the making of a family was tants of this locality originate from the region of said to be very strict at the time (Idem: 51).
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Roma and Egyptians in Albania Public Disclosure Authorized from Social Exclusion to Social Inclusion
    Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Ilir Gedeshi Sabine Beddies Hermine De Soto From Social Exclusion to Social Inclusion Roma and Egyptians in Albania THE WORLD BANK WORLD BANK WORKING PAPER NO. WORLD 53 BANK WORKING PAPER WORLD BANK WORKING PAPER NO. 53 Roma and Egyptians in Albania From Social Exclusion to Social Inclusion Hermine G. De Soto Sabine Beddies Ilir Gedeshi THE WORLD BANK Washington, D.C. Copyright © 2005 The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development / The World Bank 1818 H Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20433, U.S.A. All rights reserved Manufactured in the United States of America First Printing: March 2005 printed on recycled paper 12345070605 World Bank Working Papers are published to communicate the results of the Bank’s work to the development community with the least possible delay. The manuscript of this paper there- fore has not been prepared in accordance with the procedures appropriate to formally-edited texts. Some sources cited in this paper may be informal documents that are not readily available. The findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development/The World Bank and its affiliated organizations, or those of the Executive Directors of The World Bank or the governments they represent. The World Bank does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this work. The boundaries, colors, denominations, and other information shown on any map in this work do not imply and judgment on the part of The World Bank of the legal status of any territory or the endorsement or acceptance of such boundaries.
    [Show full text]
  • Albanian State Policy to National Minorities on Educational and Cultural Viewpoint After 1990
    ISSN 2039-2117 (online) Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences Vol 4 No 4 ISSN 2039-9340 (print) Published by MCSER-CEMAS-Sapienza University of Rome March 2013 Albanian State Policy to National Minorities on Educational and Cultural Viewpoint After 1990 Jani Sota Ph.D. "Aleksandër Moisiu", University Durrës E-mail: [email protected] Doi: 10.5901/mjss.2013.v4n4p91 Abstract Through this topic will be discussed the practical implementation of educational and cultural process of Albanian State towards national minorities after 1990's. We will try to give answer on how practically are implemented such policies within the legal, cultural and social framework of national minorities in Albania. Study methodology is based on real achievements of the democratic state, especially in educational context. In the educational framework of national minorities in Albania after 90’s there have been real and concrete achievements. Firstly, these achievements are seen in the educational structure of national minorities, plans, educational programs and school specific texts. Also, there will be taken in consideration the recognition from international organizations and the continuous trials done and being done for the recognition of local and international legislation, convents and specific recommendations, principles and guidelines previewed on "European Charter on Regional and Minority Language", "Framework Convent for the Protection of National Minorities" etc. Key words: National minority, education, culture, legislation, Albania. 1.Brief historical overview of national minorities living in Albania Historical tradition in Albania has moved on the road to recognition as a national minority of those minorities who have a parent nation, which have common characteristics, such as: spiritual constitution, language, culture, customs and traditions, religion etc.
    [Show full text]
  • 3903-4048.Pdf
    BALCANICA POSNANIENSIA XXII/1 IUS VALACHICUM I Poznań – Bucharest 2015 VLACHS’IDENTITY AND THE CHALLENGES OF WORLD WAR II Io n u ţ nI s t o r Ab s t r A c t : During the Second World War, the Aromanians had their own, different perspectives over the com- batants and the political structure in the region. Some of them willingly adhered to the Italian project, support- ed the fascist army and liked the idea of a political-territorial organisation (their own state, Pind, or at least an Albanian-Romanian confederation) under the patronage of Rome. The existence of multiple power centres with particular interests and zealous leaders weakened the force of the discourse and damaged from the inside a state project which was doomed to fail anyway, in the conditions in which Italy seemed to have other plans. The pres- ence of many groups and leaders who disputed their supremacy, legitimacy and representation had consequenc- es on obtaining cultural and political rights on the territories organised by the Italians. The interventions of the Romanian government tried to answer some specific and immediate needs regarding food supplies or teaching materials, but they did not manage efficiently the material and human resources and could not stifle the local con- flicts for power and money. Ionuţ Nistor, PhD, assistant professor, History Department, „Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University, Iaşi, Romania, e-mail: [email protected] Keywords: Aromanians, minorities, the Balkans, war, identity DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.14746/bp.2015.22.9 The premisis of the research From the beginning of showing a conscience in the modern way, reflected in cul- tural and political projects, the Vlachs have built their identity in a dual way.
    [Show full text]
  • Albanian Government Comments on the “Opinion”Of the Advisory Committee of the “Framwork Convention for the Protection of National Minorities”
    ALBANIAN GOVERNMENT COMMENTS ON THE “OPINION”OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE OF THE “FRAMWORK CONVENTION FOR THE PROTECTION OF NATIONAL MINORITIES”. INTRODUCTION On 26.07.2001 Albania has submitted to the Council of Europe the First Report “On the Protection of National Minorities Rights”. From April the 9th till May the 3rd, 2002, the Advisory Committee of the “Framework Convention for the Protection of National minorities” of the Council of Europe has visited Albania in the framework of this report examination and to receive further information on the application of this Convention. On 12.09.2002 the Advisory Committee of the “Framework Convention for the Protection of National minorities” of the Council of Europe has approved the “Opinion” concerning the report submitted by Albania. Assessing the importance of the Advisory Committee “Opinion”, this document was delivered for consideration to some central institutions, including structures that treat the national minorities problems. This Opinion was sent also to the Ombudsman, the Sciences Academy, the Radio Television National Council, the Albanian Helsinki Committee, the various national minority and language associations. So, these comments are a result of the dialogue and consultations among the parties concerned. In the framework of the further dialogue and transparency spirit increase and on the basis of the suggestions made by the Advisory Committee, the Office for Minorities in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs took the initiative of translating this material into the minorities languages
    [Show full text]
  • 459 ~ Stoica LASCU Prof., Phd, „Ovidius” University of Constanţa Email: [email protected]
    Conferință științifică internațională, Chișinău, 22-23 septembrie 2020, ediția a II-a ~ 459 ~ Stoica LASCU Prof., PhD, „Ovidius” University of Constanţa email: [email protected] RECENT RESEARCH ON THE CULTURAL HERITAGE OF AROMANIANS IN THE BALKANS Summary. Recent Research on the Cultural Heritage of Aromanians in the Balkans. The paper presents concerns of some researchers from Romania (from Bucharest and Constanţa) regarding the knowledge and recording of the stage of the identity situation and cultural heritage of the Aroma- nians from the Balkans. It is a research project, spread over several years (2014–2019), initiated (by researcher Emil Ţîrcomnicu) by the “Constantin Brăiloiu” Institute of Ethnography and Folklore of the Romanian Academy, completed – so far – by publishing six albums. The areas of Korçë, Sarandë and Gjirokastër, Plain of Muzachia, Gramsh, Elbasan, and Pogradec (all in Albania), Bitolia region, Ohrid, Struga, and Crușova (all in the Republic of Northern Macedonia) are also covered. Also, the volume of research recently published about the travelers of the philologist-Professor Nistor Bardu for the knowledge of the current situation of the mother tongue at the (A)Romanians in Albania. Keywords: Research, Cultural Heritage, Balkans, Aromanians, “Constantin Brăiloiu” Institute of Ethnography and Folklore. In the last five years, fruitful research has been carried out in the areas inhabited by Aroma- nians in countries in the Balkan Peninsula (Albania1, Northern Macedonia, Bulgaria) – within a scientific project initiated and coordinated by researcher Emil Ţîrcomnicu, prolific author of volumes of Romanian ethnology2 (north and south-Danube), from the “Constantin Brăiloiu” Institute of Ethnography and Folklore of the Romanian Academy.
    [Show full text]
  • The Thirteenth Meeting of the OSCE Economic Forum
    Distributed at the request EF.DEL/42/05 of Albania 24 May 2005 ENGLISH only The Thirteenth Meeting of the OSCE Economic Forum “Demographic Trends, Migration and Integrating Persons belonging to National Minorities: Ensuring Security and Sustainable Development in the OSCE area” Prague, 23 - 27 May 2005 MINORITIES IN ALBANIA Introduction Protection of national minorities and rights and freedoms of people belonging to these categories are part of the international protection of fundamental human rights and freedoms and are of a great importance with regards to stability, democratic security and peace in Europe, aiming at the creation of a climate characterized by tolerance and dialogue, as well as enrichment of every true democratic and pluralist society. The issue of protection and respect of national minority rights is beyond question a very delicate and complex issue, whose notion developed considerable during the last years by international institutions. Although at the beginning every institution worked on its own, presently OSCE, CE and EU are working together to develop a coherent system to protect national minorities. The governments are required these days not only to respect ethnic, cultural, language and religious identity of every person belonging to a national minority, but also create necessary conditions offering to these people an opportunity to express, preserve and develop this identity. Adversaries on notions and nature of rights being recognized to minorities have hindered work to compile international standards, which can regulate their protection. The greatest obstacle is related to elaboration of the definition of “minority” as a notion. The greatest part of existing international texts does not provide a general definition of the term “minority”.
    [Show full text]
  • Download Paper
    ć University of Edinburgh, School of Law The Europeanisation of Citizenship in the Successor States of the Former Yugoslavia (CITSEE) ‘Perceived Co-Ethnics’ and Kin-State Citizenship in Southeastern Europe Dejan Stjepanović The Europeanisation of Citizenship in the Successor States of the Former Yugoslavia (CITSEE) CITSEE Working Paper Series 2013/26 Edinburgh, Scotland, UK ISSN 2046-4096 The University of Edinburgh is a charitable body, registered in Scotland , with registration number SC005336. © 2013 Dejan Stjepanović This text may be downloaded only for personal research purposes. Additional reproduction for other purposes, whether in hard copies or electronically, requires the consent of the authors. Requests should be addressed to [email protected] The view expressed in this publication cannot in any circumstances be regarded as the official position of the European Union. Published in the United Kingdom The University of Edinburgh School of Law Old College, South Bridge Edinburgh, EH8 2QL Scotland, UK www.citsee..ed.ac.uk/working_papers This work was supported by funding from the CITSEE project (The Europeanisation of Citizenship in the Successor States of the Former Yugoslavia), based at the University of Edinburgh, UK. CITSEE is funded by the European Research Council under the European Union's Seventh Framework Programme, ERC Grant no. 230239, and the support of the ERC is acknowledged with thanks. For information about the Project please visit the project website at www.citsee.ed.ac.uk CITSEE WORKING PAPER SERIES 2013/26 1 ‘Perceived Co-Ethnics’ and Kin-State Citizenship in Southeastern Europe Dejan Stjepanović, University of Edinburgh1 Abstract The paper analyses the often neglected ‘perceived co-ethnics’ in the analysis of citizenship policies.
    [Show full text]
  • Gustav Weigand, Armânii. Cercetări Etnografice, Filologice–Istorice Asupra Așa Numiților Macedo-Romani Sau Țințari De Gustav Weigand
    book review doi:10.17684/i4A60en DIACRONIA ISSN: 2393-1140 Impavidi progrediamur! www.diacronia.ro Gustav Weigand, Armânii. Cercetări etnografice, filologice–istorice asupra așa numiților macedo-romani sau țințari de Gustav Weigand. Volumul I. Țară și oameni. Cu o ilustrație de titlu, 8 fotografii și o hartă, Editura Tracus Arte, București, 2014, 398 p.† Nistor Bardu˚ Faculty of Letters,“Ovidius” University of Constanța, Aleea Universității 1, 900472 Constanța, Romania 1. Well-known among Romanian linguists, and as far as historical and ethnographic information on often quoted in applied linguistics studies, espe- the Aromanians is concerned, the public opinion in cially in those on Romanian dialectology and the the modern Romanian state (after the 1859 Union history of the Romanian language, the work of of the Romanian Principalities) did not have to wait the German scholar Gustav Weigand, Die Aro- for Gustav Weigand to learn about the existence of munen. Etnographisch-philologisch-historische Unter- the branches of Romanians living in the Balkans. suchungen über das Wolk der sogenannten Makedo- Starting with the latter part of the 19th century, Romanen oder Zinzaren. Land und Leute, Mit Romanians in the Principalities were provided with einem Titeldilde, 8 Tefels und einen Karte, Leipzig, Jo- an increasing amount of data about their Balkan hann Ambrosius Barth (Arthur Meiner), 18951 has brothers. In a 2003 study, the historian Stoica Lascu, been recently translated into Romanian under the from Ovidius University of Constanta, shows that title Armânii. Cercetări etnografice, filologice–istorice it was the 1848 revolutionaries (Chr. Tell, I. H. asupra așa numiților macedo-romani sau țințari de Rădulescu, D.
    [Show full text]
  • Social Impact of Emigration and Rural-Urban Migration in Central and Eastern Europe
    On behalf of the European Commission DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion Social Impact of Emigration and Rural-Urban Migration in Central and Eastern Europe Final Country Report Albania April 2012 Authors: Ilir Gedeshi Elira Jorgoni Neither the European Commission nor any person acting on behalf of the Commission may be held responsible for the use that may be made of the information contained in this publication. Social Impact of Emigration and Rural-Urban Migration in Central and Eastern Europe VT/2010/001 Table of Contents 1. Socio-Economic and Political Overview .............................................................................. 4 2. Main international and internal migration trends and patterns ............................................. 5 2.1 Migration – a historical background ............................................................................ 5 2.2 Main international migration trends – post 1990 .......................................................... 6 2.3 Return migration ......................................................................................................... 9 2.4 Main internal migration trends ....................................................................................10 2.5 Main characteristics of migrants ................................................................................11 3. Nation-wide labour market and social development trends under the influence of migration ........................................................................................................................................12
    [Show full text]
  • Formy Współczesnego Osadnictwa Wołoskiego Na Bałkanach (XVIII-XXI W.)
    Jędrzej Paszkiewicz Formy współczesnego osadnictwa wołoskiego na Bałkanach (XVIII-XXI w.) I. Ewolucja największych skupisk ludności wołoskiej pod panowaniem osmańskim (XVIII-XX w.). Epir (Pindos), Tesalia, Macedonia 1. Główne czynniki regresu osadnictwa wołoskiego w Pindosie w XVIII i XIX wieku. A. Społeczno-ekonomiczne okoliczności emigracji Wołochów z Pindosu B. Emigracja ludności wołoskiej z Pindosu w XIX wieku 2. Osadnictwo wołoskie w południowej części osmańskiej Macedonii (XVIII-XIX wiek) A. Masyw Olimpu B. Masyw Vermio C. Weria i okolice (XIX-XX w.) D. Meglena (XIX-XX w.) E. Wołosi w Salonikach (XIX-XX w.) II. Wołosi we współczesnych państwach bałkańskich (XX-XXI w.) 1. Wołosi w Albanii 2. Wołosi w Bułgarii 3. Wołosi w Grecji 4. Wołosi w Macedonii Północnej 5. Arumuni (Wołosi) w Rumunii 6. Wołosi w Serbii +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ I. Ewolucja największych skupisk ludności wołoskiej pod panowaniem osmańskim (XVIII-XX w.). Epir (Pindos), Tesalia, Macedonia1 Wołosi uformowali odrębną wspólnotę etnolingwistyczną w okresie od XIV do XVI wieku. Ich naturalną przestrzenią do osadnictwa były obszary Epiru i Tesalii, Macedonii południowo-zachodniej oraz Albanii południowo-wschodniej. W okresie panowania 1 Niniejszy tekst odnosi się do obszaru, który obecnie znajduje się w granicach Republiki Grecji. Problematyka migracji i osadnictwa wołoskiego w północnej części osmańskiej Macedonii, odpowiadającej w przybliżeniu obecnemu terytorium państwa o nazwie Macedonia Północna, została omówiona w oddzielnym tekście autorstwa Nikoli Minova, pt. The Vlachs in Macedonia in the 19th and 20th centuries. osmańskiego, do 1913 roku, ludność wołoska stopniowo migrowała z Epiru (gór Pindos i Grammos) w kierunku północnym oraz wschodnim, poszukując nowych miejsc do osadnictwa. W większości przypadków wędrówki te odbywały się w ramach Turcji osmańskiej, zdarzały się jednak i migracje poszczególnych rodzin poza jej granice, głównie do państw Europy środkowo-wschodniej.
    [Show full text]
  • Oral Histories and the Dialectal Research in Albania
    DOI: 10.17469/O2106AISV000007 DANIELA-CARMEN STOICA, ANYLA SARAÇI Oral Histories and the Dialectal Research in Albania The present article discusses the use of oral histories as a key methodological tool in lin- guistic and dialectal research in Albania, and as a crucial part of historical documentation. The article draws mainly on the empirical experience of both authors, who have performed research mainly in the Korça area, an area of complex linguistic contacts (Albanian-Slavic Macedonian-Greek). The two researchers recorded a number of oral histories in two distinct speeches; one belonging to the Tosk dialect of the Albanian language and the other belonging to the Aromanian dialect of the Romanian language. These two speeches are in danger of becoming extinct for two main reasons: the first being due to the linguistic homogenization of the Albanian dialects into the standard variant (Shkurtaj, 1999), the other being due to the cultural and linguistic assimilation of the Aromanians living in Albania (Capidan, 1943). Key words: oral history, Tosk dialect, Devoll speech, Aromanian dialect, Farsherot speech. 1. Introduction The present article aims to discuss the advantages and limitations of oral histories (in the form of both video recordings and interviews), as sociolinguists’ main tools for linguistic and dialectal research, as well as for historians to document various histor- ical moments in Albania. The oral histories analyzed in the article were collected be- tween 2007 and 2010 (for the Devoll speech) and during the period 2010-2015 (for the Farsherot speech1) mainly in the Korça area, situated in South-Eastern Albania, an area of complex linguistic contacts (Albanian-Slavic, Macedonian-Greek), where the Tosk dialect of the Albanian language and its various speeches also come in con- tact with the Aromanian dialect, particularly with its Farsherot speech.
    [Show full text]
  • The Recent History of the Aromanians in Southeast Europe
    The Recent History of the Aromanians in Southeast Europe by Alexandru Gica “The aim of this article is to draw an identification “map” of the Aromanians in Southeast Europe. In so doing, we have tried to take an anthropological approach by assuming the analyzed person’s perspective, to understand his or her options and motivations as much as possible. Irina Nicolau (1993) highlighted the difficulty in identifying the Aromanians among their neighbors, due to their chameleon-like characteristics. Thede Kahl (2002) describes the Aromanians as “a minority behaving as a majority.” In a later article, Kahl (2003) gives an answer to the question “can chameleons build their own nationhood?” He observes that “this shifting of identities, this ‘chameleonic’ flexibility, made the Aromanians not only one of the most polyglot groups in Southeast Europe but also a very strong one economically and politically.” Extending this idea, Kahl suggests that “their economic superiority even prevented them from developing their own nationality and accelerated their national absorption.” This article analyzes the cases of the Aromanians from the Republic of Macedonia, Albania, and Greece and should be read together with “The Recent History of the Aromanians in Romania” (Gica A., 2009), which analyzes the Romanian case. We have decided not to include in this article the case of the Aromanians in Bulgaria (a very interesting one) as they are not very numerous (between 3,000 and 5,000). We analyze the period after the First World War and organize the material by the following principles: historical background, demographic information, the state of the Romanian schools and churches founded in the 19th century in order to be used by the Aromanians living in the Ottoman Empire, the Greek-Romanian competition for the loyalty of the Aromanians, the self- identification of the Aromanians in those countries, tensions, further explanations, and conclusions.
    [Show full text]