Linguistic contact phenomena in Albanian oral literature: Loanwords in Songs of the Frontier Warriors
Linguistic contact phenomena in Albanian oral literature: Loanwords in Songs of the Frontier Warriors

Summary/Abstract: Songs of the Frontier Warriors, known as the heroic epic of Albania, consists of historic rhapsodies and legendary stories primarily originating in Northern Albania, yet it has also spread over many regions of present-day Albania. This article aims to explore phenomena of linguistic contacts by identifying, analysing, and interpreting the Turkisms present in Songs of the Frontier Warriors. This work is a significant wide poetic cycle within the Albanian legendary epic tradition and merits recognition not only as a valuable ethno-cultural artefact but also for its profound thematic significance. Central to its narrative is the enduring message of resistance in the pursuit of freedom, right, and dignity, alongside its notable literary and artistic values. Although Songs of the Frontier Warriors predates the Turkish conquest of Albania, a series of Ottoman elements are encountered in its songs, mainly in the domestic and heroic domains. This phenomenon can be attributed to the oral transmission of the epic, which, in contrast to similar works from other cultures—such as The Gilgamesh, The Ramayana, The Mahabharata, The Song of the Nibelungs, The Song of Roland—was not preserved in written form. Instead, it was transmitted orally through generations, from one bard to another, and across different regions and centuries. This oral tradition inevitably facilitated the integration of numerous Turkisms, which became integral to its narrative fabric. This article examines Turkish loanwords in Songs of the Frontier Warriors, highlighting their significant influence on the Albanian language since the Turkish conquest. We have employed qualitative data collection methods for this purpose, extracting examples from the 1937 edition of the epic and juxtaposing them with their existing English translation.

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