Preserving the Albanian language: National Assembly marks historic milestone
On the eve of Albania’s national holiday celebrating the adoption of the Albanian alphabet, academics, linguists, and professors convened at the National Assembly of the Albanian Language to discuss the future of the language in the 21st century. The Prime Minister and other experts expressed concern over the threats posed to the Albanian language by social media.
Why is this important: The Assembly takes place 116 years after the Congress of Manastir, a pivotal event for the Albanian language and Albania itself, which was then under Ottoman rule. At the time, the country faced significant risks of territorial division by neighboring states and a common language was of enormous unifying importance for a nation that otherwise was divided into four main religions. Last year, November 22 was officially designated as a national holiday to honor the adoption of the Albanian alphabet.
Context: The Prime Minister outlined the key challenges facing the Albanian language today, calling for resilience in preserving its spoken and written forms. Recognizing the difficulties of enhancing the language, he announced that the draft for a Comprehensive Dictionary of the Albanian Language is complete. This monumental effort, involving collaboration among linguists from Albania, Kosovo, and North Macedonia, will soon undergo public consultation before publication.
The Prime Minister also highlighted the rewriting of Albania’s history, an initiative led by the Academy of Sciences. He acknowledged the difficulties faced by historians, particularly regarding recent events and living public figures. Assuring the public that politics would not interfere, he cited the Albanologist Maximilian Lambertz, who said:
“The true history of humanity will only be written when Albanians are allowed to write their own history.”
Looking ahead: The Prime Minister expressed confidence that Albanian will become an official language of the EUupon Albania’s membership, emphasizing its significance as one of Europe’s oldest languages.
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