Tuskish
The Tosk ( Albanians Toskërishtja ) is one of two dialects of Albanian language . The speakers of this dialect are called Tosken (alb. Toskët ). The border to the second dialect group, the Gegisch , is formed by the Via Egnatia and thus runs roughly along the Shkumbin River and the 41st parallel. A transition zone 10 to 20 kilometers wide runs south of the river. Thus, Tuscan is spoken throughout southern Albania and by the Albanians in Greece . The Albanian of the Arbëresh in southern Italy also belongs to the Tuscan dialect group. In the west of North Macedonia, Tuscan is only spoken in a few villages on Lake Ohrid and Prespa . Gegisch and Tuskisch differ phonologically , lexically and grammatically . There are, in turn, considerable differences within the Tuscan dialect group.
The written Albanian language was developed in 1972 on the basis of Tuscan . In terms of vocabulary and word formation, there are also numerous Gegic elements.
In addition to linguistic differences, there were also cultural and social differences between Tuscan and Gegisch. The Tosken did not have their own property and therefore had to work for their landlords. Since the conquest of Albania by the Ottomans , the Tosks turned away from the system of tribal associations in order to replace it with a social organization based on a village . While the Kanun (common law ) had a low status among the Tosks , it was given great importance among the Gegens.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Miranda Vickers: Shqiptarët - Një histori modern . Bota Shqiptare, 2008, ISBN 978-99956-11-68-2 , Mbërritja e osmanëve, p. 19 (English: The Albanians - A Modern History . Translated by Xhevdet Shehu).