Prof.dr. Sindorela Doli Kryeziu-(“Fehmi Agani” University, Gjakova, Kosovo
Sindorela Doli Kryeziu<sindorela.doli.kryeziu@uni-gjk.org>
Prof.ass.dr. Yllka Imeri-(“Fehmi Agani” University, Gjakova, Kosovo
Yllka Imeri<yllka.imeri@uni-gjk.org>
Phd.Cand Pranvera Osmani-(“Fehmi Agani” University, Gjakova, Kosovo
Pranvera Osmani<pranvera.osmani@uni-gjk.org>
Abstrakti
This paper addresses the Albanian spoken variety of the Albanians of Mandritsa, a village located in southern Bulgaria, which represents a unique case of the preservation of the Albanian language outside the Albanian ethnic territory. Drawing on historical, linguistic, and dialectological sources, the study aims to analyze the origin, development, and main phonetic, lexical, and grammatical characteristics of this speech variety. Special attention is given to the influence of surrounding languages, particularly Bulgarian, Greek, and Turkish, as well as to the role of historical and social factors in the preservation or erosion of this linguistic heritage. The paper highlights the importance of documenting and studying this variety as an integral part of Albanian linguistic heritage and as evidence of interlinguistic contact in the Balkans.
Keywords: Mandrica, Albanian outside the borders, Albanian dialectology, linguistic contact, linguistic heritage.
The main purpose of this paper is to present and comprehensively analyze the Albanian spoken variety of the Albanians of Mandritsa in Bulgaria, situating it within the broader context of Albanian dialectology and the history of Albanian migrations in the Balkans.
The paper aims to:
- to examine the historical origins of the Albanian community of Mandritsa and the circumstances of its formation;
- to identify the main phonetic, morphological, and lexical features of the Mandritsa speech variety;
- to make evident the influences of other Balkan languages on this speech variety;
- to analyze the social, cultural, and historical factors that have influenced the preservation or weakening of the use of Albanian in Mandritsa;
- to emphasize the importance of preserving and documenting this speech variety as part of the Albanian linguistic heritage.
Research method
The study has been conducted using an interdisciplinary methodology that combines historical, linguistic, and sociolinguistic approaches. The main methods employed are:
- The bibliographic analysis method, which involves reviewing existing scholarly studies on Mandritsa and its speech variety, such as the works of Dhimitër Shuteriqi, Mahir Domi, Ludmilla Stankov, and other contemporary authors;
- The descriptive and analytical method, used to analyze the phonetic, lexical, and grammatical features of the Mandritsa speech variety based on documented materials;
- The comparative method, through which the Mandritsa speech is compared with standard Albanian and other Tosk dialects, with the aim of identifying archaic features and borrowings;
- The sociolinguistic approach, which assists in analyzing the role of social factors—such as migration, education, bilingualism, and cultural integration—in the use and preservation of the Albanian language within the Mandritsa community;
- The field research method in Mandritsa, which helps to observe firsthand how linguistic, cultural, and historical aspects have developed in recent years.
The combination of these methods allows for a comprehensive and balanced treatment of the topic, providing a clear overview of the linguistic and cultural significance of the Albanian speech variety of Mandritsa.
Introduction
Mandritsa (Bulgarian name: Mandritsa) is a historic village in southeastern Bulgaria, known as the only Albanian village in the country where a distinctive form of the Albanian language is still preserved and spoken (Gjinari, Shkurtaj, 2003:392). Mandritsa is impressively situated on the right bank of the Byala River (Lumi i bardhe), in the eastern part of the Rhodope Mountains, right at the border with Greece (Hristova Georgieva, 2015:25). This speech variety represents a unique dialectological case in the Balkans, demonstrating the preservation of Albanian language and culture outside the territory of Albania and Kosovo for centuries.
Volume 11, No.1 (2026): February
ISSN 2661-2666 (Online) International Scientific Journal Monte (ISJM)
ISSN 2661-264X (Print)
Full Text: PDF
This is an open-access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)