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EspañolILLYRIAN LANGUAGES
(Redirected from Illyrian)
The 'Illyrian languages' are a group of Indo-European languages that were spoken in the western part of the Balkans [1] in former times by ethnic groups identified as ''Illyrians'': Delmatae , Pannoni, Illyrians, Autariatẽt, Taulanti (''see List of Illyrian tribes''). The Illyrian languages are generally, but not unanimously, reckoned as centum languages.
Some sound-changes and other language features are deduced from what remains of the Illyrian languages, but because many writings in Illyrian are lost, it is difficult to clarify its place within the Indo-European language family aside from its probable centum nature. Because of the uncertainty, most sources provisionally place Illyrian on its own branch of Indo-European, though its relation to other languages, ancient and modern, continues to be studied.
Further than belonging to the Indo-European language family, probably as a centum language, the relation of Illyrian to other ancient and modern languages is still being examined by scholars. Today, the main source of authoritative information about the Illyrian language consists of a handful of Illyrian words cited in classical sources, and numerous examples of Illyrian anthroponyms, ethnonyms, toponyms and hydronyms.Out of all the modern languages in europe, Albanian is the most prominent of all to the connection of the Illyrian language.
A grouping of Illyrian with the Messapian language has been proposed for about a century, but remains an unproven hypothesis. The theory is based on classical sources, archaeology, as well as onomastic considerations. Messapian material culture bears a number of similarities to Illyrian material culture. Some Messapian anthroponyms have close Illyrian equivalents.
A relation to the Venetic language and Liburnian language, once spoken in northeastern Italy and Liburnia respectively, is also proposed.
Some scholars believe the modern Albanian language to be descended from Illyrian. [2] The identification of Illyrian as a centum language is widely but not unanimously accepted, although it is generally admitted that from what remains of the language, centum examples appear to greatly outnumber satem examples. One of the few satem examples in Illyrian appears to be ''Osseriates'', probably from PIE ''
★ eghero-'', "lake". Only a few Illyrian items have been linked to Albanian, and these remain tentative or inconclusive for the purpose of determining a close relation. However, more Albanian words than the number of words of other Indo-European languages have been linked to Illyrian.
The relationship between Illyrian and Albanian is much debated. Some connection seems likely, but the nature of the relationship is disputed beyond a consensus that both languages were spoken in the same area.
In 1709 G. W. Leibnitz called Albanian "the language of the ancient Illyrians". Another supporter of this theory is G. Meyer; the Albanian language was for him the most recent stage of one of the Illyrian dialects
Various arguments support this thesis: certain apparently Albanian loans in ancient Greek (especially Doric) and in ancient Latin prove the antiquity of the Albanian presence in regions known to have been inhabited by "Illyrians".
Some current Albanian anthroponomy also seems to have its Illyrian correspondent: eg the Albanian ''dash'' "ram" would correspond the Illyrian "Dassius, Dassus"; also the Albanian ''bardhë'' "white" would correspond to "Bardus, Bardullis, Bardyllis" which are different Latin written names to immitate the Illyrian sound. And some ethnonyms of Illyrian tribes also seem to have their Albanian equivalents, e.g., the name Dalmatians may correspond to Albanian ''delmë'' "sheep"[3]; also the name of Dardanians may correspond to Albanian ''dardhë'' "pear" [4]. It should be pointed out, however, that these words present a number of etymological problems, namely incongruent sound correspondances [5].
A number of folk etymologies have repeatedly been used to tie historical Greco-Roman mythico-legendary figures to Albanian words. These attempts are somewhat extreme. For instance, the Albanian word ''det'' "sea" (dialectal ''dēt'', Italo-Albanian ''dejt, dejët''), which is traced by etymologists to
★ ''deubeta'' "depth", is erroneously linked to the Greek titaness ''Tethys''. Similar attempts have been made for Odysseus (Ulysses), Athena, Emathia, etc., most of which have other, more plausible etymologies.
The Ancient Greek language would have become an important external influence on Illyrian-speakers who occupied lands adjacent to ancient Greeks.
Invading Celts who settled on lands occupied by Illyrians brought the Illyrians into contact with the Celtic languages. Intensive contact may have happened in what is now Bosnia, Croatia, and Serbia. Because of this intensive contact, and because of conflicting classical sources, it is unclear whether some ancient tribes were Illyrian or Celtic (''see for example Scordisci''). Thracians and Paionians also occupied lands populated by Illyrians, bringing Illyrians into contact with the Thracian language and Paionian language.
Yet it was not Greek, Celtic, Thracian, or Paionian, but Latin that would come to displace Illyrian above the Jireček line. The Romans conquered all the lands in which Illyrian was spoken, and it is quite possible that Illyrian faded early in the Common era, perhaps even before the Slavic invasion of the Balkans. However, this is disputed by other scholars and linguists who maintain that the living Albanian language is a surviving Illyrian language.
Since there are no Illyrians texts, sources for identifying Illyrian words have been identified by Hans Krahe[6] as of four kinds: inscriptions, glosses of Illyrian words in Classical texts, names— including proper names (mostly inscribed on tombstones), toponyms and river names— and Illyrian loanwords in other languages. The last category has proved particularly contentious. The names occur in sources that range over more than a millennium, including numismatic evidence, as well as posited original forms of placenames (Krahe 1955). The inscriptions, some three hundred, are largely in Messapic, an ancient Illyrian language spoken in parts of Apulia: Illyrian inscriptions are limited to a votive inscription on a ring found near Skutari (Krahe 1955) and perhaps a spearhead found at Kovel[7]
Only a few Illyrian words are cited in Classical sources by Roman or Greek writers, but these glosses, provided with translations, provide a core vocabulary. Only four identified with an ethnonym ''Illyrii'' or ''Illurioí''; others must be identified by indirect means:
★ ''abeis'', "snakes"; cf. L ''anguis'', OHG ''unc'', etc.
★ ''brisa'' "husk of grapes"
★ ''deuádai'' "satyrs"; cf. Skt ''dhūnoti'' "he shakes", Gk ''thýein'' "to rage, seethe", ''théeion'' "sulfur vapor", Eng ''dizzy'', Old English ''dwæs'' "foolish", Paeonian ''Dýalos'' "Dionysos", Latin ''furere'' "to rage", ''belua'' "wild animal", Old Irish ''dásacht'' "rage, fury", Lith ''dvesiù'' "to perish, die (animals)", Hitt ''tuhhai'' "to gasp"
★ ''mantía'', "bramblebush"; cf. archaic Alb ''mand, mandë'', mod. Alb ''mën, man'' "mulberry bush"
★ ''rhinos'', "fog, mist"; cf. OAlb ''ren'', mod. Alb ''re, rê'' "cloud"
★ ''sabaia'', ''sabaium'', ''sabaius'', "a type of beer"; akin to Eng ''sap'', Lat. ''sapere'' "to taste", Skt ''sabar'' "sap, juice, nektar", Avest. ''višāpa'' "having poisonous juices", Arm ''ham'', Greek ''apalós'' "tender, delicate", Old Church Slavonic ''sveptǔ'' "bee's honey"
★ ''sibina'' (Lat.), ''sibyna'' (Lat.), ''sybina'' (Lat.); ''σιβυνη'' (Gk.), ''σιβυνης'' (Gk.), ''συβινη'' (Gk.), ''ζιβυνη'' (Gk.): "a hunting spear", generally, "a spear", "pike"; an Illyrian word according to Festius, citing Ennius; is compared to ''συβηνη'' (Gk.), "flute case", a word found in Aristophanes' ''Thesmophoriazusai''; the word appears in the context of a barbarian speaking. Akin to Persian ''zôpîn'', Arm ''səvīn'' "spit"
★ ''sika'', "knife, dagger or sword"; cf. Alb ''thikë''
Some additional words have been extracted by linguists from toponyms, hydronyms, anthroponyms, etc.:
★ ''Bosona'' "Bosna river", literally "running water".
★ mons ''Bulsinus'': IE
★ bhl.kos; cf. Eng ''balk'', Middle Irish ''blog'' "piece, fragment", Latin ''fulcrum'' "bedpost", Gk ''phálanx'' "trunk, log", Lith ''balžiena'' "crossbar", Serb ''blazína'' "roof beam", Skt ''bhuríjāu'' "cart arms"
★ ''Derbanoí'', An''derva'': IE
★ derv; cf. Eng ''tree'', Albanian ''dru'' "wood", Old Church Slavonic ''drĕvo'' "tree", Welsh ''derw'' "oak", Gk ''dóry'' "wood, spear", ''drýs'' "oak, tree", Lith ''derva'' "pine wood", Hittite ''taru'' "tree, wood', Thracian ''taru'' "spear", Skt ''dru'' "tree, wood", ''daru'' "wood, log"
★ ''Dizēros'', An''dízētes'': IE
★ digh; cf. Eng ''dough'', Gk ''teîchos'' "wall", Latin ''fingere'' "to shape, mold", Old Irish ''com-od-ding'' "he builds, erects", Old Russian ''dĕža'' "kneading trough", Armenian ''dez'' "heap", Skt ''dehah'' "body, form"
★ ''loúgeon'', "a pool"; cf. Alb ''lag'' "to wet, soak, bathe, wash" (< PA
★ ''lauga''), ''lëgatë'' "pool" (< PA
★ ''leugatâ''), ''lakshte'' "dew" (< PA
★ ''laugista''); further akin to Lith ''liűgas'' "marsh", OSl ''luža'' "pool", Thracian ''Lýginos'' "river name" [8]
★ ''Naro'': IE
★ nor; cf. Lith ''nãras'' "diving duck", Russ ''norá'' "hole", SCr ''po-nor'' "abyss"
★ ''Nedinum'': IE
★ ned; cf. Skt ''nadas'' "roarer"
★ ''Oseriates'', "lakes"; akin to Old Church Slavonic ''ozero'' (Serb-Croat ''jezero''), Latvian ''ezers'', OPruss ''assaran'', Gk ''Akéroun'' "river in the underworld"
★ lacus ''Pelso'', "deep": IE
★ pels; cf. Czech ''pleso'' "deep place in a river, lake"
★ ''Skenóbardos'': IE
★ skeno-bhardhos; cf. Eng ''shine'' and ''beard''
★ ''Tergitio'', "merchant"; Old Church Slavonic ''trĭgĭ'' (Serb-Croat ''trg''), Old Russian ''tǔrgǔ'', Latvian ''tirgus'' (but not Alb ''tregë'' "market", which is a borrowing from Slavic[9])
★ ''Teuta'', ''Teutana'': IE ''
★ teuta-'', "people"; cf. Lith ''tauta'' "people", German ''Deutsch'' "German", Old English ''theod'' "people", Old Irish ''tuath'' "clan", Umbrian ''tota'' "people", Oscan ''touto'' "city", Hittite ''tuzzi'' "army"
★ Afrodita (Variant of Aphrodite)
★ Agirrus
★ Agron
★ Alban
★ Andis, Andes, Andio, Andia
★ Andre
★ Annes, Annis,Annisa
★ Anxhela (Variant of Angela)
★ Arberi
★ Arbo
★ Arjan
★ Armis
★ Artan
★ Ballaios
★ Bato
★ Birkenna (Daughter of the Illyrian king Bardhyllis and one of the wives of Pyrrhus)
★ Blodus, Bledis
★ Boria,Bora
★ Besnik
★ Dafina (Variant of Daphne)
★ Daor
★ Dasius
★ Dazas
★ Ditus (
★ Dorian
★ Drita (Illyrian word for "light")
★ Endri
★ Felis
★ Genthena
★ Gezim (Illyrian word for "joy"/"happy")
★ Gentis,
★ Glavus
★ Grabos
★ Haris
★ Idris
★ Ilir
★ Klodis
★ Laiscus
★ Linda
★ Luan
★ Madena
★ Mal
★ Messor (
★ Monounios (Monunius)
★ Mytilis
★ Plare(n)s
★ Plator, Platoris (gen.)
★ Pleuratus
★ Posantio
★ Pravaius
★ Roza (Variant of Rose)
★ Sara (Variant of Sarah)
★ Scerdis
★ Sidrit/Sidrita (Illyrian word "like the light")
★ Skender
★ Skerdilaidas
★ Sokol
★ Tatta
★ Temus
★ Teuda
★ Teuta
★ Thana
★ Titus
★ Vendes
★ Venera (Variant of Venus)
★ Verzo
★ Zanatis
★ Ziraeus
Illyrian names:
★ Glaukias, akin to Gk. ''glaukos'', "gleaming, gray, gray-green, etc."
★ Kleitos, akin to Gk. ''kleinos'', "renowned"
The following Illyrian names, all of which occur in inscriptions from the upper Neretva river valley near Konjic in Bosnia, are considered to derived from Celtic:
★ Boio
★ Bricussa
★ Iacus
★ Mallaius
★ Mascelio
★ Crossland, R. A., ''Linguistic problems of the Balkan area in the late prehistoric and early classical periods.'' Boardman, Edwards, Hammond and Sollberger 1982, 834--849.
★ Polomé, E. C., ''Balkan languages (Illyrian, Thracian and Daco-Moesian)''. Boardman, Edwards, Hammond and Sollberger 1982, 866--888.
★ Wilkes, John, ''The Illyrians''. Blackwell Books, 1992.
1. If the Messapian language was close enough to the Illyrian languages to be considered an Illyrian language, then Illyrian would also have been spoken in southern Italy.
2. http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9042146
3. The attachment of delmë 'sheep' with this city is largely based on the fact that Strabo calls Delminium a ''pedíon me-lóboton'' "pasturage for sheep", but Strabo actually says that the plain of Delminium was made a pasturage by Nasica. Furthermore, this is a common Greek term for devastation. Ref. Katičic', Radislav. ''Ancient Languages of the Balkans, Part One''. Paris: Mouton, 1976: 173.
4. Serge Métais (2006): ''Histoires des Albanais'', Edition Fayard.
5. -dh- of ''bardhë'' 'white' is from a palatalized
★ g and a ''d'' would be unexpected whereas for example Illyrian ''Skenóbardos'' "shining beard" has an expected -d-; the -a- of ''dash'' is from
★ -au-, later becoming a long ''a'' as part of the Albanian long vowel push chain, which would not explain a double -ss- where a short -a- is expected; dardhë is unlikely symantically, though the related verb ''derdh'' "to pour" as the area is noted even today for its lushness and fertility
6. Krahe, ''Die Sprache der Illyrier I. Die Quellen'' (1955).
7. Gustav Must, reviewing Krahe 1955 in ''Language'' '32'.4 (October 1956) p. 721.
8. Strabo 7.43, "élos loúgeon khaloúmenon"
9. Orel, Vladimir. ''A Concise Historical Grammar of the Albanian Language''. Leiden, Netherlands: Brill, 2000, p.40.
★ Messapian language
★ Serbo-Croat language
★ short Illyrian glossary
★ geocities page collecting the entries of Pokorny (1959) containing Illyrian material
★ Maps of Illyria and Illyricum
The 'Illyrian languages' are a group of Indo-European languages that were spoken in the western part of the Balkans [1] in former times by ethnic groups identified as ''Illyrians'': Delmatae , Pannoni, Illyrians, Autariatẽt, Taulanti (''see List of Illyrian tribes''). The Illyrian languages are generally, but not unanimously, reckoned as centum languages.
Some sound-changes and other language features are deduced from what remains of the Illyrian languages, but because many writings in Illyrian are lost, it is difficult to clarify its place within the Indo-European language family aside from its probable centum nature. Because of the uncertainty, most sources provisionally place Illyrian on its own branch of Indo-European, though its relation to other languages, ancient and modern, continues to be studied.
| Contents |
| Language affinity |
| Illyrian and Albanian |
| Outside influences |
| Illyrian words |
| Illyrian names |
| References |
| Notes |
| See also |
| External links |
Language affinity
Further than belonging to the Indo-European language family, probably as a centum language, the relation of Illyrian to other ancient and modern languages is still being examined by scholars. Today, the main source of authoritative information about the Illyrian language consists of a handful of Illyrian words cited in classical sources, and numerous examples of Illyrian anthroponyms, ethnonyms, toponyms and hydronyms.Out of all the modern languages in europe, Albanian is the most prominent of all to the connection of the Illyrian language.
A grouping of Illyrian with the Messapian language has been proposed for about a century, but remains an unproven hypothesis. The theory is based on classical sources, archaeology, as well as onomastic considerations. Messapian material culture bears a number of similarities to Illyrian material culture. Some Messapian anthroponyms have close Illyrian equivalents.
A relation to the Venetic language and Liburnian language, once spoken in northeastern Italy and Liburnia respectively, is also proposed.
Some scholars believe the modern Albanian language to be descended from Illyrian. [2] The identification of Illyrian as a centum language is widely but not unanimously accepted, although it is generally admitted that from what remains of the language, centum examples appear to greatly outnumber satem examples. One of the few satem examples in Illyrian appears to be ''Osseriates'', probably from PIE ''
★ eghero-'', "lake". Only a few Illyrian items have been linked to Albanian, and these remain tentative or inconclusive for the purpose of determining a close relation. However, more Albanian words than the number of words of other Indo-European languages have been linked to Illyrian.
Illyrian and Albanian
The relationship between Illyrian and Albanian is much debated. Some connection seems likely, but the nature of the relationship is disputed beyond a consensus that both languages were spoken in the same area.
In 1709 G. W. Leibnitz called Albanian "the language of the ancient Illyrians". Another supporter of this theory is G. Meyer; the Albanian language was for him the most recent stage of one of the Illyrian dialects
Various arguments support this thesis: certain apparently Albanian loans in ancient Greek (especially Doric) and in ancient Latin prove the antiquity of the Albanian presence in regions known to have been inhabited by "Illyrians".
Some current Albanian anthroponomy also seems to have its Illyrian correspondent: eg the Albanian ''dash'' "ram" would correspond the Illyrian "Dassius, Dassus"; also the Albanian ''bardhë'' "white" would correspond to "Bardus, Bardullis, Bardyllis" which are different Latin written names to immitate the Illyrian sound. And some ethnonyms of Illyrian tribes also seem to have their Albanian equivalents, e.g., the name Dalmatians may correspond to Albanian ''delmë'' "sheep"[3]; also the name of Dardanians may correspond to Albanian ''dardhë'' "pear" [4]. It should be pointed out, however, that these words present a number of etymological problems, namely incongruent sound correspondances [5].
A number of folk etymologies have repeatedly been used to tie historical Greco-Roman mythico-legendary figures to Albanian words. These attempts are somewhat extreme. For instance, the Albanian word ''det'' "sea" (dialectal ''dēt'', Italo-Albanian ''dejt, dejët''), which is traced by etymologists to
★ ''deubeta'' "depth", is erroneously linked to the Greek titaness ''Tethys''. Similar attempts have been made for Odysseus (Ulysses), Athena, Emathia, etc., most of which have other, more plausible etymologies.
| Illyrian place-name | Albanian | Observation |
|---|---|---|
| Ulkinium (Ulcinj, Montenegro) | ujk "wolf" (archaic ''ulk'') + -inj "plural or collective ending" | IE ★ (w)ulkos "wolf" + inium "collective suffix" |
Outside influences
The Ancient Greek language would have become an important external influence on Illyrian-speakers who occupied lands adjacent to ancient Greeks.
Invading Celts who settled on lands occupied by Illyrians brought the Illyrians into contact with the Celtic languages. Intensive contact may have happened in what is now Bosnia, Croatia, and Serbia. Because of this intensive contact, and because of conflicting classical sources, it is unclear whether some ancient tribes were Illyrian or Celtic (''see for example Scordisci''). Thracians and Paionians also occupied lands populated by Illyrians, bringing Illyrians into contact with the Thracian language and Paionian language.
Yet it was not Greek, Celtic, Thracian, or Paionian, but Latin that would come to displace Illyrian above the Jireček line. The Romans conquered all the lands in which Illyrian was spoken, and it is quite possible that Illyrian faded early in the Common era, perhaps even before the Slavic invasion of the Balkans. However, this is disputed by other scholars and linguists who maintain that the living Albanian language is a surviving Illyrian language.
Illyrian words
Since there are no Illyrians texts, sources for identifying Illyrian words have been identified by Hans Krahe[6] as of four kinds: inscriptions, glosses of Illyrian words in Classical texts, names— including proper names (mostly inscribed on tombstones), toponyms and river names— and Illyrian loanwords in other languages. The last category has proved particularly contentious. The names occur in sources that range over more than a millennium, including numismatic evidence, as well as posited original forms of placenames (Krahe 1955). The inscriptions, some three hundred, are largely in Messapic, an ancient Illyrian language spoken in parts of Apulia: Illyrian inscriptions are limited to a votive inscription on a ring found near Skutari (Krahe 1955) and perhaps a spearhead found at Kovel[7]
Only a few Illyrian words are cited in Classical sources by Roman or Greek writers, but these glosses, provided with translations, provide a core vocabulary. Only four identified with an ethnonym ''Illyrii'' or ''Illurioí''; others must be identified by indirect means:
★ ''abeis'', "snakes"; cf. L ''anguis'', OHG ''unc'', etc.
★ ''brisa'' "husk of grapes"
★ ''deuádai'' "satyrs"; cf. Skt ''dhūnoti'' "he shakes", Gk ''thýein'' "to rage, seethe", ''théeion'' "sulfur vapor", Eng ''dizzy'', Old English ''dwæs'' "foolish", Paeonian ''Dýalos'' "Dionysos", Latin ''furere'' "to rage", ''belua'' "wild animal", Old Irish ''dásacht'' "rage, fury", Lith ''dvesiù'' "to perish, die (animals)", Hitt ''tuhhai'' "to gasp"
★ ''mantía'', "bramblebush"; cf. archaic Alb ''mand, mandë'', mod. Alb ''mën, man'' "mulberry bush"
★ ''rhinos'', "fog, mist"; cf. OAlb ''ren'', mod. Alb ''re, rê'' "cloud"
★ ''sabaia'', ''sabaium'', ''sabaius'', "a type of beer"; akin to Eng ''sap'', Lat. ''sapere'' "to taste", Skt ''sabar'' "sap, juice, nektar", Avest. ''višāpa'' "having poisonous juices", Arm ''ham'', Greek ''apalós'' "tender, delicate", Old Church Slavonic ''sveptǔ'' "bee's honey"
★ ''sibina'' (Lat.), ''sibyna'' (Lat.), ''sybina'' (Lat.); ''σιβυνη'' (Gk.), ''σιβυνης'' (Gk.), ''συβινη'' (Gk.), ''ζιβυνη'' (Gk.): "a hunting spear", generally, "a spear", "pike"; an Illyrian word according to Festius, citing Ennius; is compared to ''συβηνη'' (Gk.), "flute case", a word found in Aristophanes' ''Thesmophoriazusai''; the word appears in the context of a barbarian speaking. Akin to Persian ''zôpîn'', Arm ''səvīn'' "spit"
★ ''sika'', "knife, dagger or sword"; cf. Alb ''thikë''
Some additional words have been extracted by linguists from toponyms, hydronyms, anthroponyms, etc.:
★ ''Bosona'' "Bosna river", literally "running water".
★ mons ''Bulsinus'': IE
★ bhl.kos; cf. Eng ''balk'', Middle Irish ''blog'' "piece, fragment", Latin ''fulcrum'' "bedpost", Gk ''phálanx'' "trunk, log", Lith ''balžiena'' "crossbar", Serb ''blazína'' "roof beam", Skt ''bhuríjāu'' "cart arms"
★ ''Derbanoí'', An''derva'': IE
★ derv; cf. Eng ''tree'', Albanian ''dru'' "wood", Old Church Slavonic ''drĕvo'' "tree", Welsh ''derw'' "oak", Gk ''dóry'' "wood, spear", ''drýs'' "oak, tree", Lith ''derva'' "pine wood", Hittite ''taru'' "tree, wood', Thracian ''taru'' "spear", Skt ''dru'' "tree, wood", ''daru'' "wood, log"
★ ''Dizēros'', An''dízētes'': IE
★ digh; cf. Eng ''dough'', Gk ''teîchos'' "wall", Latin ''fingere'' "to shape, mold", Old Irish ''com-od-ding'' "he builds, erects", Old Russian ''dĕža'' "kneading trough", Armenian ''dez'' "heap", Skt ''dehah'' "body, form"
★ ''loúgeon'', "a pool"; cf. Alb ''lag'' "to wet, soak, bathe, wash" (< PA
★ ''lauga''), ''lëgatë'' "pool" (< PA
★ ''leugatâ''), ''lakshte'' "dew" (< PA
★ ''laugista''); further akin to Lith ''liűgas'' "marsh", OSl ''luža'' "pool", Thracian ''Lýginos'' "river name" [8]
★ ''Naro'': IE
★ nor; cf. Lith ''nãras'' "diving duck", Russ ''norá'' "hole", SCr ''po-nor'' "abyss"
★ ''Nedinum'': IE
★ ned; cf. Skt ''nadas'' "roarer"
★ ''Oseriates'', "lakes"; akin to Old Church Slavonic ''ozero'' (Serb-Croat ''jezero''), Latvian ''ezers'', OPruss ''assaran'', Gk ''Akéroun'' "river in the underworld"
★ lacus ''Pelso'', "deep": IE
★ pels; cf. Czech ''pleso'' "deep place in a river, lake"
★ ''Skenóbardos'': IE
★ skeno-bhardhos; cf. Eng ''shine'' and ''beard''
★ ''Tergitio'', "merchant"; Old Church Slavonic ''trĭgĭ'' (Serb-Croat ''trg''), Old Russian ''tǔrgǔ'', Latvian ''tirgus'' (but not Alb ''tregë'' "market", which is a borrowing from Slavic[9])
★ ''Teuta'', ''Teutana'': IE ''
★ teuta-'', "people"; cf. Lith ''tauta'' "people", German ''Deutsch'' "German", Old English ''theod'' "people", Old Irish ''tuath'' "clan", Umbrian ''tota'' "people", Oscan ''touto'' "city", Hittite ''tuzzi'' "army"
Illyrian names
★ Afrodita (Variant of Aphrodite)
★ Agirrus
★ Agron
★ Alban
★ Andis, Andes, Andio, Andia
★ Andre
★ Annes, Annis,Annisa
★ Anxhela (Variant of Angela)
★ Arberi
★ Arbo
★ Arjan
★ Armis
★ Artan
★ Ballaios
★ Bato
★ Birkenna (Daughter of the Illyrian king Bardhyllis and one of the wives of Pyrrhus)
★ Blodus, Bledis
★ Boria,Bora
★ Besnik
★ Dafina (Variant of Daphne)
★ Daor
★ Dasius
★ Dazas
★ Ditus (
★ Dorian
★ Drita (Illyrian word for "light")
★ Endri
★ Felis
★ Genthena
★ Gezim (Illyrian word for "joy"/"happy")
★ Gentis,
★ Glavus
★ Grabos
★ Haris
★ Idris
★ Ilir
★ Klodis
★ Laiscus
★ Linda
★ Luan
★ Madena
★ Mal
★ Messor (
★ Monounios (Monunius)
★ Mytilis
★ Plare(n)s
★ Plator, Platoris (gen.)
★ Pleuratus
★ Posantio
★ Pravaius
★ Roza (Variant of Rose)
★ Sara (Variant of Sarah)
★ Scerdis
★ Sidrit/Sidrita (Illyrian word "like the light")
★ Skender
★ Skerdilaidas
★ Sokol
★ Tatta
★ Temus
★ Teuda
★ Teuta
★ Thana
★ Titus
★ Vendes
★ Venera (Variant of Venus)
★ Verzo
★ Zanatis
★ Ziraeus
Illyrian names:
★ Glaukias, akin to Gk. ''glaukos'', "gleaming, gray, gray-green, etc."
★ Kleitos, akin to Gk. ''kleinos'', "renowned"
The following Illyrian names, all of which occur in inscriptions from the upper Neretva river valley near Konjic in Bosnia, are considered to derived from Celtic:
★ Boio
★ Bricussa
★ Iacus
★ Mallaius
★ Mascelio
References
★ Crossland, R. A., ''Linguistic problems of the Balkan area in the late prehistoric and early classical periods.'' Boardman, Edwards, Hammond and Sollberger 1982, 834--849.
★ Polomé, E. C., ''Balkan languages (Illyrian, Thracian and Daco-Moesian)''. Boardman, Edwards, Hammond and Sollberger 1982, 866--888.
★ Wilkes, John, ''The Illyrians''. Blackwell Books, 1992.
Notes
1. If the Messapian language was close enough to the Illyrian languages to be considered an Illyrian language, then Illyrian would also have been spoken in southern Italy.
2. http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9042146
3. The attachment of delmë 'sheep' with this city is largely based on the fact that Strabo calls Delminium a ''pedíon me-lóboton'' "pasturage for sheep", but Strabo actually says that the plain of Delminium was made a pasturage by Nasica. Furthermore, this is a common Greek term for devastation. Ref. Katičic', Radislav. ''Ancient Languages of the Balkans, Part One''. Paris: Mouton, 1976: 173.
4. Serge Métais (2006): ''Histoires des Albanais'', Edition Fayard.
5. -dh- of ''bardhë'' 'white' is from a palatalized
★ g and a ''d'' would be unexpected whereas for example Illyrian ''Skenóbardos'' "shining beard" has an expected -d-; the -a- of ''dash'' is from
★ -au-, later becoming a long ''a'' as part of the Albanian long vowel push chain, which would not explain a double -ss- where a short -a- is expected; dardhë is unlikely symantically, though the related verb ''derdh'' "to pour" as the area is noted even today for its lushness and fertility
6. Krahe, ''Die Sprache der Illyrier I. Die Quellen'' (1955).
7. Gustav Must, reviewing Krahe 1955 in ''Language'' '32'.4 (October 1956) p. 721.
8. Strabo 7.43, "élos loúgeon khaloúmenon"
9. Orel, Vladimir. ''A Concise Historical Grammar of the Albanian Language''. Leiden, Netherlands: Brill, 2000, p.40.
See also
★ Messapian language
★ Serbo-Croat language
External links
★ short Illyrian glossary
★ geocities page collecting the entries of Pokorny (1959) containing Illyrian material
★ Maps of Illyria and Illyricum
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