Albanian, Tosk
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Fact corner
- Language: Albanian, Tosk
- Alternate names: Tosk, Arnaut, Shkip, Shqip, Skchip, Shqiperë, Zhgabe
- SIL-code: Ethnologue:als
- Language family: Indo-European, Albanian, Tosk
- Number of speakers: 2,980,000
- Script: Latin script
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Introduction
Albanian is the primary language in Albania and Kosovo. Albanian in a revised form of the Tosk dialect is the official language in the Republic of Albania and an official written language in the Republic of Kosovo.
The verb
Albanian has developed an analytical verbal structure in place of the earlier synthetic system, inherited from Proto-Indo-European. Its complex system of moods (6 types) and tenses (3 simple and 5 complex constructions) is distinctive among Balkan languages. There are two general types of conjugation.
Sample verb: jam
Present
| unë | jam |
| ti | je |
| ai | është |
| ne | jemi |
| ju | jeni |
| ata | janë |
Conjugate other verbs:
- jam 'to be',
- kam 'to have',
- shoh 'to see',
- afrohem 'to approach',
- jap 'to give',
- rri 'to remain/stay',
- bie 'to fall',
- afroj'to approach',
- zë 'to occupy',
- lë 'to let'
References
- Guerra, Paola et Spagnoli, Alberto. Dizionario Albanese.
Avallardi. Milano. 2000.
- Orel, Vladimir. A concise historical grammar of the Albanian language: Reconstruction of Proto-Albanian.
Brill. Leiden Boston. 2000.
- Weigand, Gustav. Albanesische Grammatik im südgegischen Dialekt. Johann Ambrosius Barth. Leipzig. 1913.