Devils Advocate
Regular Member
Hi guys!
Noticing alot of Albanians in these forums and people with good knowledge on linguistics I'd like some help on the following. Being from a village in the Polog Valley (Village name is Nerasht written about first by Greek/Byzantine travellers as Nerast/Narest in the 1300s). I have noticed that we have some words that aren't used in Kosovo (Which i know, since my girlfriend is from Kosovo), and neither in Albania (atleast Durrës area where my grandmother is from), here are some of the words. Would be great if someone could identify if they are loans or not, and if they are used by Albanians in other parts of Albanian lands:
Alb - English
Hanxhare - Something close to a Machete (not a sword or a knife(where we use the general term "Thik")
sos - used as in "u sos" (It was finished, that was finished) or "a u sos" (was it finished). Kosovars would say "A e kryve msimin?", while we say "A e sose msimin?" (did you finish the lecture?)
Gjep - Cradle
Tiqe - Further, as in "Esht ma tiqe" (it's further away)
Teka - Closer, as in "Eja ma teka" (Come closer)
Xhi - What, equivalent to when Kosovars use Qka(what) or qysh(what/how). In a sentence it would be "Xhi ki ba!?" (What have you done!?)
Ke - What (Same as above, only a few villages use this), in sentence; "Ke esht kjo"(What is this?) or "Ke tha?" (What did he/she say?)
Shtahi - Now , "Ta them Shtahi" (I will tell you now)
Kallenxhoj - They are Albanian dances (Vallë) only done in Polog valley (I think), they are/were used before and after wars. Divided into two main categories:
1) Kallenxhojat e let (The "light versions") which were danced after the men returned from wars (These days used in Weddings after the Groom is shaved by his closest friends/family members (men only). For those interested, here is a video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHhS6FXJ5yo&t=22m25s (this is a simplified version btw). As you can see the tempo and drum rythm is fast and the dance(vallja) requires one to be light on your foot.
2) Kallenxhojat e rënd (The "Heavy versions") These were danced before wars, they are called "Heavy" since the Drum rythms are very slow, and the person(s) dancing are moving slowly and controlled (very exhaustive).
Also in the Polog valley, nearly every village pronounce the same words different:
Std.Alb - Varius villages in Polog valley - English
Shtëpi - Shpaj (Tetovë (City)) - Shpoj (Nerasht (Lowlands)) (Norwegian Å) - Shpej (Slatinë(Highlands)) (the Norwegian Æ) - House/Home
Shi - Shaj - Shoj - Shej - Rain
(There are even more, some heavily use the nose (like a heavy version of how the French use their nose to pronounce/speak)
These villages are in an area with a lenght of 18 km. So just wondering what can cause such differences in such a small area, or is this normal?
(Started this due to a discussion with my dad on what is a loan word and what is not a loan word, I.e. Sokak (small street/street alley) which is only used by elderly and which I think is a Turkish word?)
Noticing alot of Albanians in these forums and people with good knowledge on linguistics I'd like some help on the following. Being from a village in the Polog Valley (Village name is Nerasht written about first by Greek/Byzantine travellers as Nerast/Narest in the 1300s). I have noticed that we have some words that aren't used in Kosovo (Which i know, since my girlfriend is from Kosovo), and neither in Albania (atleast Durrës area where my grandmother is from), here are some of the words. Would be great if someone could identify if they are loans or not, and if they are used by Albanians in other parts of Albanian lands:
Alb - English
Hanxhare - Something close to a Machete (not a sword or a knife(where we use the general term "Thik")
sos - used as in "u sos" (It was finished, that was finished) or "a u sos" (was it finished). Kosovars would say "A e kryve msimin?", while we say "A e sose msimin?" (did you finish the lecture?)
Gjep - Cradle
Tiqe - Further, as in "Esht ma tiqe" (it's further away)
Teka - Closer, as in "Eja ma teka" (Come closer)
Xhi - What, equivalent to when Kosovars use Qka(what) or qysh(what/how). In a sentence it would be "Xhi ki ba!?" (What have you done!?)
Ke - What (Same as above, only a few villages use this), in sentence; "Ke esht kjo"(What is this?) or "Ke tha?" (What did he/she say?)
Shtahi - Now , "Ta them Shtahi" (I will tell you now)
Kallenxhoj - They are Albanian dances (Vallë) only done in Polog valley (I think), they are/were used before and after wars. Divided into two main categories:
1) Kallenxhojat e let (The "light versions") which were danced after the men returned from wars (These days used in Weddings after the Groom is shaved by his closest friends/family members (men only). For those interested, here is a video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHhS6FXJ5yo&t=22m25s (this is a simplified version btw). As you can see the tempo and drum rythm is fast and the dance(vallja) requires one to be light on your foot.
2) Kallenxhojat e rënd (The "Heavy versions") These were danced before wars, they are called "Heavy" since the Drum rythms are very slow, and the person(s) dancing are moving slowly and controlled (very exhaustive).
Also in the Polog valley, nearly every village pronounce the same words different:
Std.Alb - Varius villages in Polog valley - English
Shtëpi - Shpaj (Tetovë (City)) - Shpoj (Nerasht (Lowlands)) (Norwegian Å) - Shpej (Slatinë(Highlands)) (the Norwegian Æ) - House/Home
Shi - Shaj - Shoj - Shej - Rain
(There are even more, some heavily use the nose (like a heavy version of how the French use their nose to pronounce/speak)
These villages are in an area with a lenght of 18 km. So just wondering what can cause such differences in such a small area, or is this normal?
(Started this due to a discussion with my dad on what is a loan word and what is not a loan word, I.e. Sokak (small street/street alley) which is only used by elderly and which I think is a Turkish word?)