Language.— Authorities are not in com plete accord over the origin of the Albanian language. By some it is thought to be the speech of the ancient Pelasgs, but Gustav Meyer and most of the later philologists believe it to be one of the eight chief Indo-Germanic groups, representing the ancient Illyrian; it is found not only in Albania, but in southern Italy and Sicily. The former notion that its affinities were prevailing Greek was derived from the number of Greek loan-words in its southern branch, the Toskish, the northern and the more primitive being called Gegish; the affiliation of the whole is rather to Slavic than any other. While retaining its grammatical structure, its vocabulary has been largely transformed by borrowing from its neighbors ; Latin most, then Greek, Serbian and Turkish. The many suffixes of Latin origin, the simple and compound verbs made in accordance with Latin models, the formation of plurals by inflexion, etc., are the best proof that the Albanian language has been affected most by Latin influence. It has al most no literature, except folk songs, fables and tales. The Gegish use the Roman alphabet, the Toskish the Greek, with some changes, there being no common written alphabet. Apart from a few writings of the Roman Catholic propa ganda (Varibabba with his (Life of the Virgin Mary') mention should be made of de Rada's attempt to collect Albanian national poetry and rhapsodies (19th century). In the most recent times Koustauban Kristoforidhis has written a grammar of the Albanian languages and en deavored to translate the Old and New Testa ments.
Bibliography.— Consult the bibliography compiled by Manek, Pekmezi and Stotz (Vienna 1909) ; also Legrand et Guys, (Bibliographie Albanaise du XV siecle a l'annee 1900' (Paris 1912) ; Durham,
Albania' (London 1909) ; id.,
Struggle for Scutari> (Lon don 1914) ; Grothe,
Albanien und Mon tenegro' (Munich 1913) GopEeviE„ (Das Fir stentum Albanien, seine Vergangenheit, ethno graphische Verhaltnisse, politische Lage und Aussicht fiir die Zukunft> (Berlin 1914); Pea cock,
the Foundling State of Europe' (London 1914) ; Gibert, (Les pays d'Alhanie it leur histoire' (Paris 1914) ; Wace and Thomp son,
Nomads of the Balkans> (London 1914). Language.— Mikloiich, (Albanesiscla Forschungen' (Vienna 1870-71) ; Meyer, 'Al banesische
(Vienna 1883-96); id.
Grammatik' (Leipzig 1N-t); Jokl,
zur Albanesischen Etymolon und Wortbildung> (Vienna 1911) ; Weigand
Revised by Woisr-Av M. Pernovrrtn, Chief Slavonic Division, New York Public Library.