AN OVERVIEW ABOUT “THE ALBANIAN GRAMMAR” (1882) OF KRISTOFORIDHI

Abstract

Kristoforidhi, a prominent figure for Albania, has a significant position among the Albanian linguists. His contribution and merits in the field of the Albanian linguistics is well known. His work “The grammar of the Albanian language” (1882), written in Tosk dialect, it is considered the best-written work of this kind, taking into account the period when Kristoforidhi published it. This text has been in the spotlight of many scholars and linguists, either in terms of content, or in terms of structure or due to the fact that it was written in Tosk
dialect, or in terms of its main purpose. This paper aims, first, to highlight the values this work, as a unique grammar of its kind and not as a reproduction of the Albanian grammar models which is written earlier back in time, where it is provided a general description of the structure of this grammar. Secondly, the paper aims to introduce it as a work which is highly estimated as it was relied on factual material collected by the author himself. Furthermore, in the focus of this paper is on the questions raised by Albanian linguists; why Kristoforidhi published the Grammar in Greek and if there were consequences of its publication in a foreign language. In this part of the study, it is aimed to highlight the reasons why the linguist was forced to take such a decision. However, Kristoforidhi’s “The grammar of the Albanian language” constitutes a valuable work in the whole set of works of this nature in the Albanian linguistic tradition.