The Absence of Written Records of Illyrian
One of the most significant issues surrounding the Illyrian language is the complete lack of written records. Unlike Greek and Latin, which have extensive texts and inscriptions from antiquity, Illyrian has left no trace in written form. This means that we do not know:
- Whether the Illyrian language had its own alphabet or borrowed a writing system. In regions considered Illyrian, Greek and Latin inscriptions have been found, but none have been definitively classified as Illyrian.
- Its grammar and syntax. We do not know how words were formed, whether it had cases, verb tenses, or any characteristics linking it to other known languages of the Indo-European family.
- Its vocabulary, beyond the very few place names and personal names attributed to it. The connection of these words to Illyrian is mostly hypothetical, as there is no comparative material to place them in a clear linguistic framework.
Therefore, the only basis for the assumption of the existence of the Illyrian language is the 17 words found in Greek and Latin sources that cannot be definitively etymologized from any other known language of antiquity. However, the fact that this language left no written records creates significant obstacles for scholarly study and allows only for speculation, without any possibility of reconstruction.
The Theory of Connection to Albanian
Due to the geographical location where the ancient Illyrians lived, the theory has been proposed that modern Albanian is a direct descendant of Illyrian. This assumption is based solely on the fact that the area that ancient Greeks and Romans referred to as Illyria is now inhabited by Albanians.
However, this theory is problematic and is not supported by linguistic or historical data but rather by a simple geographic association. The reasons why the connection between Illyrian and Albanian is questionable are as follows:
- The first historical references to the Albanian language are extremely late. The first known mention of the existence of the Albanian language appears only in the 14th century AD, in Byzantine and Latin texts.
- The first written text in Albanian appears in the 16th century. This is the “Missal of Gjon Buzuku” (1555), which is not a literary work but a religious text written by Catholic missionaries to promote Christianity among Albanian-speaking populations.
- The first books in Albanian that are not religious appear only in the 18th century. Until then, all known written texts in Albanian were Christian and were authored by clergy attempting to spread Christianity among Albanians.
These facts indicate that Albanian, as a recorded language, appears at least 1500 years after the Illyrians disappeared from historical sources. No Illyrian inscription has been found, and no text allows us to compare the two languages directly.
Conclusion
The connection between Illyrian and the Albanian language is a theory based more on geography and less on linguistic or historical evidence. Illyrian left no written records, making it impossible to prove that any modern language is its direct descendant.
On the other hand, Albanian emerges in the historical record far too late, after the 14th century AD, and its earliest recorded forms are Christian liturgical texts from the 16th century. The fact that this language was first recorded so many centuries after antiquity, and primarily by third parties, makes any connection with Illyrian purely hypothetical and entirely unproven.
The attempt to present Albanian as a continuation of Illyrian is a political rather than a scientific argument. The effort to link two languages with a 1500-year gap between them, one of which left no written record, is from highly unlikely to entirely uncertain.
The 17 “Illyrian” Words and Their Sources
| Word | Category | Ancient Author | Language of Source | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labeatae | Tribe | Livy (Ab Urbe Condita 44.31) | Latin | 1st century BC |
| Taulantii | Tribe | Polybius (Histories 2.5) | Greek | 2nd century BC |
| Ardiaei | Tribe | Polybius (Histories 2.11) | Greek | 2nd century BC |
| Dassaretii | Tribe | Polybius (Histories 5.108) | Greek | 2nd century BC |
| Daorsi | Tribe | Pliny the Elder (Naturalis Historia 3.143) | Latin | 1st century AD |
| Pleraei | Tribe | Livy (Ab Urbe Condita 43.20) | Latin | 1st century BC |
| Amantini | Tribe | Pliny the Elder (Naturalis Historia 3.143) | Latin | 1st century AD |
| Parthini | Tribe | Polybius (Histories 2.11) | Greek | 2nd century BC |
| Dimallii | Tribe | Livy (Ab Urbe Condita 31.27) | Latin | 1st century BC |
| Lissus | Place Name | Livy (Ab Urbe Condita 44.30) | Latin | 1st century BC |
| Narona | Place Name | Pliny the Elder (Naturalis Historia 3.143) | Latin | 1st century AD |
| Scodra | Place Name | Livy (Ab Urbe Condita 44.31) | Latin | 1st century BC |
| Labeatis (Lake Scutari) | Place Name | Pliny the Elder (Naturalis Historia 3.144) | Latin | 1st century AD |
| Gentius | Personal Name | Livy (Ab Urbe Condita 44.30) | Latin | 1st century BC |
| Pleuratus | Personal Name | Polybius (Histories 2.11) | Greek | 2nd century BC |
| Delminium | Place Name | Pliny the Elder (Naturalis Historia 3.142) | Latin | 1st century AD |
| Salona | Place Name | Pliny the Elder (Naturalis Historia 3.142) | Latin | 1st century AD |
Ths same article in Greek