LEXICOGRAPHIC DEVELOPMENTS IN ALBANIAN RESIDENCE OF SOUTH ITALY (ARBËRESHE), AS PART OF THE ALBANIAN LEXICOGRAPHY POLITE COCKA Candidate of Doctorature The Centre of Albanologic Studies in Tirana, Albania Institute of Albanian Language Vlore, Albania E-mail: [email protected] Abstract- The study of Albanian lexicography is closely connected with lexicographic developments in and out of the Albanian borders, where there are Albanians and Albanian residences. The Albanian residents of south Italy (arbëreshët) represent one of the largest communities of Albanians who left their motherland centuries ago. Although the time of their settlement on the coasts of south Italy refers to centuries, still they have not forgotten their mother tongue. Yet, we can now notice multidiscipline studies to collect, protect and develop their language as a continuation and fulfillment of linguistic progress at home. During these two last centuries, an enormous burst of studies is seen in the field of lexicography. As a result of a considerable linguistic, dialectic and lexicographic research and processing, almost the whole lexical treasure of talk in south Italy has been collected and treated. All these developments in the centre of which is the study of south Italy Albanian residents’ language, make up a part of the entire studies in the field of Albanian language. Key words- lexicography, Albanian residents of south Italy (arbëreshët), developments, linguistic, dictionary, studies. Albanian lexicography dates back in the XVII scientific work initiated by the unforgettable century with the dictionary of Frang Bardhi professor. Francesco Solano who practically founded “Dictonarium latino-epiroticum” in 1635. Even the department in 1975, an important Albanolog though the Albanians are among the oldest people in centre is created at the University of Calabria. Along their settlements, the development of lexicography with it, there is also a center of scientific documents and other linguistic disciplines takes place very lately. for the numerous groups of Albanian residents of This has been as a result of a cruel and desperate South Italy who represent almost two third of the history of the Albanian past. whole population of Arbëresh Minority that live in Albanian lexicographic developments are classified Italy today. into two important periods: The first period begins In three provinces of Calabria, that’s to say in the with the publishing of Frang Bardhi’s dictionary and province of Kozenca, Katanxari and Kutroni there are ends in the middle of the XX century, whereas the nowadays 33 out of 50 Albanian speaking second period begins in the middle of the XX century communities of Italy. Only in the province of and continues until nowadays. Both periods make up Kozenca there is half of Arbëresh communities that unbreakable links of a unique history, but differ so are still alive as for as linguistic view is conserved. much amongst them both in the field of theory upon This strong link with Arberesh settlements, which which they are based and the field of practice which historically characterises even the other Albanalogic they have applied. department at the University of Palermo as well as The first period of Albanian lexicography is closely the outstanding of these departments among the other connected with the history and the fate of Albanian Italian ones, geographically isolated from the people. For centuries on end, the Albanians have Arberesh - speaking context, represents one of the gone through massive and repeated exodus, mainly in features that clearly explains the directions that the neighbour countries such as Italy and Greece. Albanian science took in these two research & study So, in building up or compiling the history of centres. Albanian lexicography, the linguistic developments In the new historical conditions these two of Albanians in these settlements have had an departments continue the educating activity iniciated inevitable role. in the previous centuries by two religious colleges It is important to state out that a special value in the and important cultural centres, represented by the second period of Albanian lexicography stays in the “Corsini” Arberesh college, later “Corsini-S. research work made at the University of Calabria in Adriano” in Calabria Benedetto and the Arberesh the field of Arberesh lexicography. Seminar of Palermo in Sicilia. Referring to a work of Professor, Doctor Francesco But, both university centres in Kozenca & Palermo, Altimari1, based upon the incomparable didactic & simultaneously involved in the cultural and academic world, national and international, of Albanian 1 residents of south Italy, have the possibility to link F.Altimari. The research work developed in the University of Kalabria in the field of Arberesh Lexicography. Directions and results “Albanian Lexicography, Inheritance and prospective”, Tirane, 2005. pp33. Proceedings of Academics World 19th International Conference, Rome, Italy, 24th January 2016, ISBN: 978-81-925751-8-6 1 Lexicographic Developments In Albanian Residence Of South Italy (Arbëreshe), As Part Of The Albanian Lexicography this activity with the development of the linguistic version with 7659 questions and a reduced version science and those modern literary ones, focusing on adapted with 1646 questions. Eqrem Çabej 3 ’s the academic orientation within the same subject questionnaire has been used for ALA (Albanian “Albanian Language and Literature”. This orientation Linguistic Atlas) with 2579 questions. appears in the linguistic and dialectological field, as In most cases the questionnaires have been translated well as in the field of the science of literature in a in Arberesh dialect and the answers have been taken historic & geographic prospective, critical and from the interviewed people with the questions philological2. presented in the mother language. Fiorella de Rosa, Paying attention to the scientific activity developed already famous in the world of Albanologic studies, by the department in the last decades, it can be said with the well-known philologyc competence, has that it was directed into two fields: a) the literary worked with the transcription of old texts. She field, with the collection of manuscripts as well as in worked with the thesis under the topic “Testi the improvement & analyses of texts; b) the linguistic Arbëresh della parlata di Falconara Albanese nella field, with the collection of dialectological evidence rivista ‘La Calabria’ 1888-1902”. ( Arberesh texts in in terrain. Based on the above reasons, dialectology the dialect of Fallkunara extracted from the magazine and philology were the privileged fields of research “La Calabria”1888-1902). work, by university professors, researches, scientific With the collection of dialectic lexicon in the cooperators and the students of the department. community of Saint Benedette has worked Daniella Because of the absence of new research dealers, at the Cavallo with her thesis “Un’ indagine sul lessico beginning, for nearly 15 years the department had its della parlata arberesh di San Benedetto Ullano”. own staff; only one professor and one lecturer. The (Research upon the lexicon of spoken language of cooperation among students has been decisive to Benedette) Daniella made use of two questionnaires fulfill the aims and for terrain research. ALE and ALI adapted respectively ALE1 1546 In our university, but partly even else where it was questions, ALE2 2300 questions and ALI with 1646 separated from the common “bed” of “Albanian questions. Language and Literature, in some specific branches In this thesis, asserted in 1989-1990, the computer like “Albanian Language”, “Albanian Literature”, was firstly used to arrange (systemize) the general “Arberesh Dialects of South Italy” and “Albanian lexicon of Arberesh speech (idiom) putting together Philology”. the results of the lexical material collected through During the first period (1975- 1990) are included the questionnaires. theses with linguistic character, except mainly in any Gabrielina Baruto has also been concerned with the general description of Arberesh dialects, but within description of Sant Benedetto speech (idiom) in monographers with materials from spoken literature another theses “La parlata Arberesh di San Benedetto and dialectological material. Of course it was Ullano,” (The speech of Saint Benedette) in the same necessary that these descriptions, which were the first year. ones made for these communities, should include as Even the theses of diplomas have been concentrated much material as possible (ethnographic, literal, upon the lexicon. For example: Filomena Raimondo linguistic etc.) to keep the historic memory and living with “Il lessiko della parlata Arberesh di signs of Arberesh spiritual and material culture alive Acquaformasa attraversoi i questionnaires del which was based under the inevitable pressure of progetto ALE” (The lexicon of Arberesh Speech in Modernism and assimilating model of Italian society. Formoza through the questionnaires of ALE project; Since the 90’s and after the opening of Arberesh Silvia Tocci with “Uno studio morfologico e lessicale Dialect courses (1980) the researches of the sulla parlata arberesh speech in Vaccarizo) which department began to focus mostly in systematically includes 2470 file cards through the questionnaires collecting of dialectic lexicon based on one side in ALE1, and ALE2. Both theses were asserted during texts that were “reorganised” on the philology aspect the academic year