Qeparo: Difference between revisions

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== Name ==
== Name ==


The village name, ''Kleparo'' {{IPA2|kleparˈo}} in the 18th century, lost the syllable-initial consonant cluster "kl-", simplified into "q-" {{IPA2|ceparˈo}}, a common development of [[Albanian]] at the time.<ref name="Trofenik">{{cite book|last1=Trofenik|first1=Rudolf|last2=Peter |first2=Bartl|last3=Bonazza|first3=Sergio |title=Münchner Zeitschrift für Balkankunde (Special Issue)|url=http://books.google.com/books?ei=kehsTJyXEcHF4gbCvLmgCw&ct=result&id=pSlpAAAAMAAJ&dq=Vienna+%22Dedovich%22+HImara&q=clapero#search_anchor|year=1991|publisher=Universität München. Institut für Geschichte Osteuropas und Südosteuropas|location=Muenchen, Germany |language=German|isbn=387828196|page=315}}</ref> According to Nataša Gregorič, the original name of the village was ''Kiepero'' or ''Kiparos'', which derives from the word "kipos", meaning garden in [[Greek language|Greek]].<ref>{{cite web | last=Gregorič |first=Nataša | title=Contested Spaces and Negotiated Identities in Dhermi/Drimades of Himare/Himara area, Southern Albania |ref= Gregorič| format=PDF | url=http://www.p-ng.si/~vanesa/doktorati/interkulturni/3GregoricBon.pdf | accessdate=2010-08-15 |work=[[University of Nova Gorica]] |page=46}}</ref>
The village name, ''Kleparo'' {{IPA2|kleparˈo}} in the 18th century, lost the syllable-initial consonant cluster "kl-", simplified into "q-" {{IPA2|ceparˈo}}, a common development of [[Albanian]] at the time.<ref name="Trofenik">{{cite book|last1=Trofenik|first1=Rudolf|last2=Peter |first2=Bartl|last3=Bonazza|first3=Sergio |title=Münchner Zeitschrift für Balkankunde (Special Issue)|url=http://books.google.com/books?ei=kehsTJyXEcHF4gbCvLmgCw&ct=result&id=pSlpAAAAMAAJ&dq=Vienna+%22Dedovich%22+HImara&q=clapero#search_anchor|year=1991|publisher=Universität München. Institut für Geschichte Osteuropas und Südosteuropas|location=Muenchen, Germany |language=German|isbn=387828196|page=315}}</ref> According to another theory, based on oral and written historical accounts, the original name of the village was Kiepero or Kiparos, which derives from the Greek word "kipos", meaning garden in [[Greek language|Greek]].<ref>{{cite web | last=Gregorič |first=Nataša | title=Contested Spaces and Negotiated Identities in Dhermi/Drimades of Himare/Himara area, Southern Albania |ref= Gregorič| format=PDF | url=http://www.p-ng.si/~vanesa/doktorati/interkulturni/3GregoricBon.pdf | accessdate=2010-08-15 |work=[[University of Nova Gorica]] |page=46}}</ref>


== Location ==
== Location ==
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== History ==
== History ==


Qeparo (Claperus) was mentioned in 1581<ref>''Monumenta spectantia ad unionem ecclesiarum Graecae et Romanae. Maiorem partem e sanctioribus Vaticani tabulariis edita ab Augustino Theiner et Francisco Miklosich cum tabula. Vindobonae, Guilelmus Braumueller, 1872; p. 57 - 63'' (1581. mense februario: Chimarenses a Turcis vexati auxilium petunt a papa Gregorio XIII., promittentes se sedi apostolicae esse obtemperaturos... Chimara terra et episcopatus: Heliates, Bunae, Claperus, Cudessei, Pilure etc.)</ref> as one of the villages of the [[Himarë]] region. Until the 1750s Himarë was composed of more than 50 villages<ref name="Bulletin1955"/> while at the end of the 1780s, it comprised only 16 villages situated by the seashore, from [[Saranda]] to Palasë.<ref name="Studime historike">{{cite journal|last=Studime historike|year=1964|title=Dokumente: Kapiteni Dedoviç, Vjenë, më 30 korrik 1787. ({{lang-en|Documents: Captain Dedowitch, Vienna, July 30th, 1787}})|journal=Studime historike ({{lang-en|Historical Studies}})|issue=4|language=Albanian}}</ref> Later on, with [[Ali Pasha]]'s defeat, the region of Himara shrinked to only seven villages: Palasë, Dhërmi, Vuno, Himarë, Qeparo, Kudhës, and Pilur. In the east, Qeparo is limited by Borsh, in the northeast with Çorraj, in the north with Kudhës, in the northwest by Piluri, in the west with the town of Himara and in the south and southwest by the Ionian sea. The [[Porto Palermo Castle]], built by Ali Pasha is part of the territory of Qeparo, limited by Himara.<ref name="Ndarurinze">{{cite book|last=Ndarurinze|first=Renate|title=Albanien entdecken: Auf den Spuren Skanderbegs|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=_ONjVWRhAKcC&pg=PA242&dq=Albanien+entdecken+ali+pasha+porto+palermo+Ndarurinze&hl=en&ei=Q8JyTJGNPMP38Ab6qb30Cg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=book-thumbnail&resnum=1&ved=0CDEQ6wEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false|year=2008|publisher=Trescher Verlag |location=Berlin|language=German|isbn=3897941252|page=243}}</ref>
Qeparo (Claperus) was first mentioned in 1581<ref>''Monumenta spectantia ad unionem ecclesiarum Graecae et Romanae. Maiorem partem e sanctioribus Vaticani tabulariis edita ab Augustino Theiner et Francisco Miklosich cum tabula. Vindobonae, Guilelmus Braumueller, 1872; p. 57 - 63'' (1581. mense februario: Chimarenses a Turcis vexati auxilium petunt a papa Gregorio XIII., promittentes se sedi apostolicae esse obtemperaturos... Chimara terra et episcopatus: Heliates, Bunae, Claperus, Cudessei, Pilure etc.)</ref> as one of the villages of the [[Himarë]] region. Until the 1750s Himarë was composed of more than 50 villages<ref name="Bulletin1955"/> while at the end of the 1780s, it comprised only 16 villages situated by the seashore, from [[Saranda]] to Palasë.<ref name="Studime historike">{{cite journal|last=Studime historike|year=1964|title=Dokumente: Kapiteni Dedoviç, Vjenë, më 30 korrik 1787. ({{lang-en|Documents: Captain Dedowitch, Vienna, July 30th, 1787}})|journal=Studime historike ({{lang-en|Historical Studies}})|issue=4|language=Albanian}}</ref> Later on, with [[Ali Pasha]]'s defeat, the region of Himara shrinked to only seven villages: Palasë, Dhërmi, Vuno, Himarë, Qeparo, Kudhës, and Pilur. In the east, Qeparo is limited by Borsh, in the northeast with Çorraj, in the north with Kudhës, in the northwest by Piluri, in the west with the town of Himara and in the south and southwest by the Ionian sea. The [[Porto Palermo Castle]], built by Ali Pasha is part of the territory of Qeparo, limited by Himara.<ref name="Ndarurinze">{{cite book|last=Ndarurinze|first=Renate|title=Albanien entdecken: Auf den Spuren Skanderbegs|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=_ONjVWRhAKcC&pg=PA242&dq=Albanien+entdecken+ali+pasha+porto+palermo+Ndarurinze&hl=en&ei=Q8JyTJGNPMP38Ab6qb30Cg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=book-thumbnail&resnum=1&ved=0CDEQ6wEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false|year=2008|publisher=Trescher Verlag |location=Berlin|language=German|isbn=3897941252|page=243}}</ref>


The village is composed of the following ''neighbourhoods'' or ''brotherhoods'' ({{lang-sq|vëllazëri}}): ''Ballëguras, Bragjint' e Poshçërë, Bragjint' e Sipërmë, Dhimëgjonas, Gjikëbitaj, Mërtokaj, Ndregjin, Peçolat, Pogdan'' and ''Rushat''. Every brotherhood had its own patron saint.<ref name="Ulqini">{{cite journal|last=Ulqini|first=K|title=Phénomènes de l'ancienne organisation sociale à Himara et à Suli|journal=Ethnographie albanaise|location=Tirana|volume=XV|issue=1987|page=201|language=French}}</ref>
The village is composed of the following ''neighbourhoods'' or ''brotherhoods'' ({{lang-sq|vëllazëri}}): ''Ballëguras, Bragjint' e Poshçërë, Bragjint' e Sipërmë, Dhimëgjonas, Gjikëbitaj, Mërtokaj, Ndregjin, Peçolat, Pogdan'' and ''Rushat''. Every brotherhood had its own patron saint.<ref name="Ulqini">{{cite journal|last=Ulqini|first=K|title=Phénomènes de l'ancienne organisation sociale à Himara et à Suli|journal=Ethnographie albanaise|location=Tirana|volume=XV|issue=1987|page=201|language=French}}</ref>
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== Language ==
== Language ==
Historically <ref>Chimeriotae sunt Arnautlari, vel Albani, vel Epirothae, trans sinum ex aduerso Corcyrae siti: qua in regione continua montium series est, quam vno vocabolo nautae iam dicunt Chimeram... ''Annales Sultanorum Othmanidarum, a Turcis sva lingva scripti: Hieronymi Beck a Leopoldstorf, Marci fil. Studio & diligentia Constantinopoli aduecti M D L I, Diuo Ferdinando Caes. Opt. Max D.D. iussuque Caes. a Ioanne Gaudier dicto Spiegel, interprete Turcico Germanice translati. Ioannes Leunclavius Nobilis Angriuarius, Latine redditos illustrauit & auxit, vsque ad annum MDXXCVIII. Francofvrdi, apud Andreae Wecheli heredes, Claudium Marnium & Ioannem Aubrium, MDLXXXVII. p. 468'' [http://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&channel=s&hl=en&source=hp&q=arnautlari&btnG=Google+Search#client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&channel=s&hl=en&q=arnautlari&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbo=u&tbs=bks:1&source=og&sa=N&tab=wp&fp=7db4f7af4a13aa89]</ref>, Qeparo has been inhabited by a community of Albanian monolinguals.<ref>{{cite web | last=Gregorič |first=Nataša | title=Contested Spaces and Negotiated Identities in Dhermi/Drimades of Himare/Himara area, Southern Albania |ref= Gregorič| format=PDF | url=http://www.p-ng.si/~vanesa/doktorati/interkulturni/3GregoricBon.pdf | accessdate=2010-08-15 |work=[[University of Nova Gorica]] |page=23}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Sotiri|first=Natasha |title=E folmja dhe toponimia e Qeparoit |url=http://openlibrary.org/books/OL3756700M/E_folmja_dhe_toponimia_e_qeparoit|year=2001|publisher=Academy of Sciences of Albania|language=Albanian|isbn=9992775904|page=13|quote=Kështu, banorët e Qeparoit janë njëgjuhësh, shqipfolës, megjithëse janë fare pranë me qytetin e Himarës, banorët e së cilës janë dygjuhësh (shqip dhe greqishtfolës). Në krahun tjetër të Himarës vjen fshati Vuno, i cili edhe ai është shqipfolës; pas Vunoit vjen Dhërmiu, që është shqip dhe greqishtfolës. (in English: Thus the inhabitants of Qeparo are monolingual, Albanian speaking, although we are very near to the town of Himara, whose inhabitants are bilingual (Albanian and Greek speaking). On the other side of Himara is the village of Vuno, which also is Albanian speaking, after Vuno comes Dhermi, which is Albanian and Greek speaking)}}</ref> This is confirmed by a letter sent from the people of the region of Himara to [[Elizabeth of Russia]] in the 18th century, which specifies that the language spoken in the region is Albanian, however people who go to school can also speak Greek, whereas the wealthy families speak Italian because they serve foreign armies or have members who have gone to seminaries in Italian cities,<ref name="Bulletin1955">''Bulletin of Social Sciences'' ({{lang-sq|Buletin për Shkencat Shoqërore}}, II, Tiranë, 1955, p. 159: part of the Letter sent from the people of Himara to the Tzarine Elizabeta Petrovna ({{lang-sq|Letra dërguar nga populli i Himarës carinës Elizaveta Petrovna}}) Quote: ''Let's add only that our creed is Christian Orthodox, we are all under a bishop and we are connected religiously to the Patriarch of Constantinople; We speak Albanian, the language that is spoken in Albania up to Bosnia, but in other places all the people that have gone to school speak Greek, and the distinguished families also use Italian, because many officials serve in foreign countries and many youngsters are sent to the seminaries of Padova and Naples ({{lang-sq|Shtojmë vetëm se besimi ynë është ortodoks, jemi të gjithë nën kryesinë e një peshkopi dhe lidhemi në pikëpamje fetare me patrikun e Konstandinopojës; flasim shqip, atë gjuhë që flitet në Shqipërinë e afërme dhe deri në Bosnje, po në vende të ndryshme të gjithë të mësuarit flasin greqisht, e familjet më të shquara përdorin edhe italishten, nga shkaku se shumë oficerë shërbejnë në vende të huaja dhe shumë të rinj dërgohen në seminarin e Padovës dhe të Napolit...}}) </ref><ref name="Zeqo">{{cite news|url=http://www.gazetarrenjet.com/gr/files/korrik_2008.pdf|title=Himara - princeshe e gjenezave te mugeta|last=Zeqo|first=Mojkom|date=July 2008|work=Gazeta Rrenjet|publisher=Hasan Aliaj|page=2|language=Italian and Albanian|accessdate=23 August 2010}}</ref> hence the [[Greek language]] has continuously been present in the village and noticed by foreign travellers.<ref>Reed Fred A.. [http://books.google.gr/books?id=YV_oAAAAIAAJ&q=qeparo%2Bgreek&dq=qeparo%2Bgreek&hl=el&ei=ddJuTOfXC4XKswaY_LztBQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CCsQ6AEwATgK Salonica Terminus: travels into the Balkan nightmare]. Talonbooks, 1996 ISBN 9780889223684, p. 102: "a mixed Greek-Albanian village called Qeparo nestled in a narrow valley."</ref>


The village is inhabited by both ethnic [[Albanians]] and [[Greeks]].<ref>Reed Fred A.. [http://books.google.gr/books?id=YV_oAAAAIAAJ&q=qeparo%2Bgreek&dq=qeparo%2Bgreek&hl=el&ei=ddJuTOfXC4XKswaY_LztBQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CCsQ6AEwATgK Salonica Terminus: travels into the Balkan nightmare]. Talonbooks, 1996 ISBN 9780889223684, p. 102: "a mixed Greek-Albanian village called Qeparo nestled in a narrow valley."</ref> Historically, Qeparo has been mainly inhabited by a community of Albanian speaking people.<ref>{{cite book|last=Sotiri|first=Natasha |title=E folmja dhe toponimia e Qeparoit |url=http://openlibrary.org/books/OL3756700M/E_folmja_dhe_toponimia_e_qeparoit|year=2001|publisher=Academy of Sciences of Albania|language=Albanian|isbn=9992775904|page=13|quote=Kështu, banorët e Qeparoit janë njëgjuhësh, shqipfolës, megjithëse janë fare pranë me qytetin e Himarës, banorët e së cilës janë dygjuhësh (shqip dhe greqishtfolës). Në krahun tjetër të Himarës vjen fshati Vuno, i cili edhe ai është shqipfolës; pas Vunoit vjen Dhërmiu, që është shqip dhe greqishtfolës. (in English: Thus the inhabitants of Qeparo are monolingual, Albanian speaking, although we are very near to the town of Himara, whose inhabitants are bilingual (Albanian and Greek speaking). On the other side of Himara is the village of Vuno, which also is Albanian speaking, after Vuno comes Dhermi, which is Albanian and Greek speaking)}}</ref> This is confirmed by a letter sent from the people of the region of Himara to [[Elizabeth of Russia]] in the 18th century, which specifies that the language spoken in the region is Albanian, however people who go to school can also speak Greek, whereas the wealthy families speak Italian because they serve foreign armies or have members who have gone to seminaries in Italian cities,<ref name="Bulletin1955">''Bulletin of Social Sciences'' ({{lang-sq|Buletin për Shkencat Shoqërore}}, II, Tiranë, 1955, p. 159: part of the Letter sent from the people of Himara to the Tzarine Elizabeta Petrovna ({{lang-sq|Letra dërguar nga populli i Himarës carinës Elizaveta Petrovna}}) Quote: ''Let's add only that our creed is Christian Orthodox, we are all under a bishop and we are connected religiously to the Patriarch of Constantinople; We speak Albanian, the language that is spoken in Albania up to Bosnia, but in other places all the people that have gone to school speak Greek, and the distinguished families also use Italian, because many officials serve in foreign countries and many youngsters are sent to the seminaries of Padova and Naples ({{lang-sq|Shtojmë vetëm se besimi ynë është ortodoks, jemi të gjithë nën kryesinë e një peshkopi dhe lidhemi në pikëpamje fetare me patrikun e Konstandinopojës; flasim shqip, atë gjuhë që flitet në Shqipërinë e afërme dhe deri në Bosnje, po në vende të ndryshme të gjithë të mësuarit flasin greqisht, e familjet më të shquara përdorin edhe italishten, nga shkaku se shumë oficerë shërbejnë në vende të huaja dhe shumë të rinj dërgohen në seminarin e Padovës dhe të Napolit...}}) </ref><ref name="Zeqo">{{cite news|url=http://www.gazetarrenjet.com/gr/files/korrik_2008.pdf|title=Himara - princeshe e gjenezave te mugeta|last=Zeqo|first=Mojkom|date=July 2008|work=Gazeta Rrenjet|publisher=Hasan Aliaj|page=2|language=Italian and Albanian|accessdate=23 August 2010}}</ref> hence the [[Greek language]] has continuously been present in the village and noticed by foreign travellers.<ref>Reed Fred A.. [http://books.google.gr/books?id=YV_oAAAAIAAJ&q=qeparo%2Bgreek&dq=qeparo%2Bgreek&hl=el&ei=ddJuTOfXC4XKswaY_LztBQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CCsQ6AEwATgK Salonica Terminus: travels into the Balkan nightmare]. Talonbooks, 1996 ISBN 9780889223684, p. 102: "a mixed Greek-Albanian village called Qeparo nestled in a narrow valley."</ref>
Today, the village is inhabited by both ethnic [[Albanians]] and [[Greeks]], bilingual in Greek and Albanian,<ref>Reed Fred A.. [http://books.google.gr/books?id=YV_oAAAAIAAJ&q=qeparo%2Bgreek&dq=qeparo%2Bgreek&hl=el&ei=ddJuTOfXC4XKswaY_LztBQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CCsQ6AEwATgK Salonica Terminus: travels into the Balkan nightmare]. Talonbooks, 1996 ISBN 9780889223684, p. 102: "Soon after leaving Himarë, the convoy made its first stop, in a mixed Greek-Albanian village called Qeparo nestled in a narrow valley. The chicken distribution was orderly..."</ref><ref>Hammond Nicholas Geoffrey Lemprière. [http://books.google.gr/books?ei=f9huTPyEMoqQjAfP_uj7CA&ct=result&hl=en&id=oDUbAAAAYAAJ&dq=qeparo%2Bhammond&q=%22to+the+Greek-speaking+village+of+Qeparo.%22#search_anchor Epirus: the geography, the ancient remains, the history and topography of Epirus and adjacent areas]. Clarendon P., 1967, p. 122: ""to the Greek-speaking village of Qeparo."</ref> <ref>Reed Fred A.. [http://books.google.gr/books?id=YV_oAAAAIAAJ&q=qeparo%2Bgreek&dq=qeparo%2Bgreek&hl=el&ei=ddJuTOfXC4XKswaY_LztBQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CCsQ6AEwATgK Salonica Terminus: travels into the Balkan nightmare]. Talonbooks, 1996 ISBN 9780889223684, p. 102: "a mixed Greek-Albanian village called Qeparo nestled in a narrow valley."</ref> a common characteristic of the villages in Himara region.<ref>{{cite web | last=|first=| title=Albania: The State of a Nation 2001 |ref= | format=PDF | url=http://www.crisisgroup.org/~/media/Files/europe/Albania%205.ashx | accessdate=2010-08-23|work=International Crisi Group: Balkans Report N°111 Tirana/Brussels |page=15}}</ref> The Albanian local dialects, are part of southern [[Tosk]], and more precisely, of the Lab sub-group.<ref>{{cite book|last=Gjinari|first=Jorgji|title=Dialektet e gjuhës shqipe|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=rbSmGwAACAAJ&dq=Dialektet+e+gjuh%C3%ABs+shqipe&hl=en&ei=0jpyTLKQONDJ4Aam6dG8Cw&sa=X&oi=book|year=1989|page=57|publisher=Academy of Sciences of Albania, Institute of Linguistics|language=Albanian}}</ref> [[Labërisht]], itself, is composed of non-unical language groups.<ref name=Totoni>{{cite book|last=Totoni|first=M|title=Dialektologjia shqiptare I, Vëzhgime rreth të folmeve të Kurveleshit ({{lang-en|Albanian dialectology I, Observations on the Language of Kurvelesh}})|year=1971|language=Albanian|page=85}}</ref>

Today the inhabitants of Qeparo are bilingual in Greek and Albanian,<ref>Reed Fred A.. [http://books.google.gr/books?id=YV_oAAAAIAAJ&q=qeparo%2Bgreek&dq=qeparo%2Bgreek&hl=el&ei=ddJuTOfXC4XKswaY_LztBQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CCsQ6AEwATgK Salonica Terminus: travels into the Balkan nightmare]. Talonbooks, 1996 ISBN 9780889223684, p. 102: "Soon after leaving Himarë, the convoy made its first stop, in a mixed Greek-Albanian village called Qeparo nestled in a narrow valley. The chicken distribution was orderly..."</ref><ref>Hammond Nicholas Geoffrey Lemprière. [http://books.google.gr/books?ei=f9huTPyEMoqQjAfP_uj7CA&ct=result&hl=en&id=oDUbAAAAYAAJ&dq=qeparo%2Bhammond&q=%22to+the+Greek-speaking+village+of+Qeparo.%22#search_anchor Epirus: the geography, the ancient remains, the history and topography of Epirus and adjacent areas]. Clarendon P., 1967, p. 122: ""to the Greek-speaking village of Qeparo."</ref> <ref>Reed Fred A.. [http://books.google.gr/books?id=YV_oAAAAIAAJ&q=qeparo%2Bgreek&dq=qeparo%2Bgreek&hl=el&ei=ddJuTOfXC4XKswaY_LztBQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CCsQ6AEwATgK Salonica Terminus: travels into the Balkan nightmare]. Talonbooks, 1996 ISBN 9780889223684, p. 102: "a mixed Greek-Albanian village called Qeparo nestled in a narrow valley."</ref> although in the day-to-day language, mainly Albanian is used<ref>{{cite web | last=Gregorič |first=Nataša | title=Contested Spaces and Negotiated Identities in Dhermi/Drimades of Himare/Himara area, Southern Albania |ref= Gregorič| format=PDF | url=http://www.p-ng.si/~vanesa/doktorati/interkulturni/3GregoricBon.pdf | accessdate=2010-08-15 |work=[[University of Nova Gorica]] |page=63|quote=In their day-to-day conversations locals of Dhermi, Palase, and Himara mainly use a Greek dialect and partly a southern Albanian (Tosk) dialect, while the locals of Ilias, Vuno, Qeparo, Kudhes, and Pilur mainly speak the Albanian tosk dialect}}</ref> The Albanian local dialects, are part of southern [[Tosk]], and more precisely, of the [[Labërisht]] sub-group.<ref>{{cite book|last=Gjinari|first=Jorgji|title=Dialektet e gjuhës shqipe|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=rbSmGwAACAAJ&dq=Dialektet+e+gjuh%C3%ABs+shqipe&hl=en&ei=0jpyTLKQONDJ4Aam6dG8Cw&sa=X&oi=book|year=1989|page=57|publisher=Academy of Sciences of Albania, Institute of Linguistics|language=Albanian}}</ref> Labërisht itself is composed of non-unical language groups.<ref name=Totoni>{{cite book|last=Totoni|first=M|title=Dialektologjia shqiptare I, Vëzhgime rreth të folmeve të Kurveleshit ({{lang-en|Albanian dialectology I, Observations on the Language of Kurvelesh}})|year=1971|language=Albanian|page=85}}</ref>


A distinctive feature of the Qeparo dialect, is the retention of long vowels, for ex.: IPA: [pa:r], ''pair'' opposed to IPA: [par], ''on the right side''; IPA: [me:r], ''fatigue'', opposed to IPA: [mer], ''take!'' In general, nouns in the dialect of Qeparo, have one plural, but some nouns can take two or more plural forms: ''qeros'' - ''qerosë'' - ''qerosërë''; ''lanet'' - ''lanetë'' - ''lanetërë''; ''leshtë'' - ''leshëratë''; ''buzeç'' - ''buzeçë'' - ''buzeçërë''; ''çakall'' - ''çakallë'' - ''çakej''.
A distinctive feature of the Qeparo dialect, is the retention of long vowels, for ex.: IPA: [pa:r], ''pair'' opposed to IPA: [par], ''on the right side''; IPA: [me:r], ''fatigue'', opposed to IPA: [mer], ''take!'' In general, nouns in the dialect of Qeparo, have one plural, but some nouns can take two or more plural forms: ''qeros'' - ''qerosë'' - ''qerosërë''; ''lanet'' - ''lanetë'' - ''lanetërë''; ''leshtë'' - ''leshëratë''; ''buzeç'' - ''buzeçë'' - ''buzeçërë''; ''çakall'' - ''çakallë'' - ''çakej''.

== Tourism ==

Qeparo is one of the favorite touristic destinations in Albania. Two hotels and a few guesthouses serve the tourists' enjoyment of the small beaches.


== Notable People ==
== Notable People ==


* [[Janko Pali]], [[Merited Teacher of Albania]], writer, teacher, translator, ethnographer and educator
* [[Janko Pali]], [[Merited Teacher of Albania]], writer, teacher, translator, ethnographer and educator
* [[Persefoni Kokëdhima]]
* [[Persefoni Kokëdhima]], [[World War II]] [[People's Hero of Albania]] (see [[Bule Naipi]])
* [[Koço Kokëdhima]], a well-known businessman.
* [[Koco Kokëdhima]] notable businessman and publisher in Albania


== See also ==
== See also ==
Line 147: Line 152:
== References ==
== References ==
{{Reflist|2}}
{{Reflist|2}}

== Further reading ==

* [http://www.himara.gov.al Region of Himara]. Official municipality website


{{Albanian Riviera}}
{{Albanian Riviera}}

Revision as of 10:19, 26 August 2010

Qeparo
Village
The Qeparo village and the bay on the Ionian Sea
The Qeparo village and the bay on the Ionian Sea
Country Albania
CountyVlorë County
DistrictVlorë District
Elevation
450 m m (0 ft)

Qeparo (Greek: Κηπαρό, Kiparo) is a seaside village, in the Albanian Riviera, Himarë municipality, District of Vlorë, Albania,[1] Nowadays Qeparo is divided in two parts, known as the old and the new village.

Name

The village name, Kleparo IPA: [kleparˈo] in the 18th century, lost the syllable-initial consonant cluster "kl-", simplified into "q-" IPA: [ceparˈo], a common development of Albanian at the time.[2] According to another theory, based on oral and written historical accounts, the original name of the village was Kiepero or Kiparos, which derives from the Greek word "kipos", meaning garden in Greek.[3]

Location

Qeparo is situated on the western slope of Mount Gjivlash, about 450 m above the sea level. In ancient times, Qeparo was situated in the Peak of Kasteli (Albanian: Maja e Kastelit). Later on, its inhabitants settled down a little further, in the Gjivlash Slope (Albanian: Rrëza e Gjivlashit), southeast of the Peak of Kasteli, in order to be more close to the fields and to escape the cold of the winter. From 1957 onwards, Qeparo was split into the Old Village, also known as Upper Qeparo (Albanian: Fshati i vjetërë, Greek: Άνω Κηπαρό), and the New Village or Lower Qeparo (Albanian: Fshati i ri, Greek: Κάτω Κηπαρό).[4]

History

Qeparo (Claperus) was first mentioned in 1581[5] as one of the villages of the Himarë region. Until the 1750s Himarë was composed of more than 50 villages[6] while at the end of the 1780s, it comprised only 16 villages situated by the seashore, from Saranda to Palasë.[7] Later on, with Ali Pasha's defeat, the region of Himara shrinked to only seven villages: Palasë, Dhërmi, Vuno, Himarë, Qeparo, Kudhës, and Pilur. In the east, Qeparo is limited by Borsh, in the northeast with Çorraj, in the north with Kudhës, in the northwest by Piluri, in the west with the town of Himara and in the south and southwest by the Ionian sea. The Porto Palermo Castle, built by Ali Pasha is part of the territory of Qeparo, limited by Himara.[8]

The village is composed of the following neighbourhoods or brotherhoods (Albanian: vëllazëri): Ballëguras, Bragjint' e Poshçërë, Bragjint' e Sipërmë, Dhimëgjonas, Gjikëbitaj, Mërtokaj, Ndregjin, Peçolat, Pogdan and Rushat. Every brotherhood had its own patron saint.[9]

Qeparo has cultivated olives for centuries, as mentioned in early 19th century by the work of François Pouqueville, Napoleon Bonaparte's general consul at the court of Ali Pasha in Ioannina.[10][full citation needed]: testimony to this, are some centennial olive trees still existing in the village.

The village has an Orthodox Church dedicated to Saint Demetrius, dated 1760, which is one of the nine churches in Albania dedicated to that saint.[11]

Language

The village is inhabited by both ethnic Albanians and Greeks.[12] Historically, Qeparo has been mainly inhabited by a community of Albanian speaking people.[13] This is confirmed by a letter sent from the people of the region of Himara to Elizabeth of Russia in the 18th century, which specifies that the language spoken in the region is Albanian, however people who go to school can also speak Greek, whereas the wealthy families speak Italian because they serve foreign armies or have members who have gone to seminaries in Italian cities,[6][14] hence the Greek language has continuously been present in the village and noticed by foreign travellers.[15]

Today the inhabitants of Qeparo are bilingual in Greek and Albanian,[16][17] [18] although in the day-to-day language, mainly Albanian is used[19] The Albanian local dialects, are part of southern Tosk, and more precisely, of the Labërisht sub-group.[20] Labërisht itself is composed of non-unical language groups.[21]

A distinctive feature of the Qeparo dialect, is the retention of long vowels, for ex.: IPA: [pa:r], pair opposed to IPA: [par], on the right side; IPA: [me:r], fatigue, opposed to IPA: [mer], take! In general, nouns in the dialect of Qeparo, have one plural, but some nouns can take two or more plural forms: qeros - qerosë - qerosërë; lanet - lanetë - lanetërë; leshtë - leshëratë; buzeç - buzeçë - buzeçërë; çakall - çakallë - çakej.

Tourism

Qeparo is one of the favorite touristic destinations in Albania. Two hotels and a few guesthouses serve the tourists' enjoyment of the small beaches.

Notable People

See also

References

  1. ^ "Location of Qeparo". Retrieved 2010-06-20.
  2. ^ Trofenik, Rudolf; Peter, Bartl; Bonazza, Sergio (1991). Münchner Zeitschrift für Balkankunde (Special Issue) (in German). Muenchen, Germany: Universität München. Institut für Geschichte Osteuropas und Südosteuropas. p. 315. ISBN 387828196. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: length (help)
  3. ^ Gregorič, Nataša. "Contested Spaces and Negotiated Identities in Dhermi/Drimades of Himare/Himara area, Southern Albania" (PDF). University of Nova Gorica. p. 46. Retrieved 2010-08-15.
  4. ^ Tourist Guide of Himara. Bashkia e Himares, p. 12.
  5. ^ Monumenta spectantia ad unionem ecclesiarum Graecae et Romanae. Maiorem partem e sanctioribus Vaticani tabulariis edita ab Augustino Theiner et Francisco Miklosich cum tabula. Vindobonae, Guilelmus Braumueller, 1872; p. 57 - 63 (1581. mense februario: Chimarenses a Turcis vexati auxilium petunt a papa Gregorio XIII., promittentes se sedi apostolicae esse obtemperaturos... Chimara terra et episcopatus: Heliates, Bunae, Claperus, Cudessei, Pilure etc.)
  6. ^ a b Bulletin of Social Sciences (Albanian: Buletin për Shkencat Shoqërore, II, Tiranë, 1955, p. 159: part of the Letter sent from the people of Himara to the Tzarine Elizabeta Petrovna (Albanian: Letra dërguar nga populli i Himarës carinës Elizaveta Petrovna) Quote: Let's add only that our creed is Christian Orthodox, we are all under a bishop and we are connected religiously to the Patriarch of Constantinople; We speak Albanian, the language that is spoken in Albania up to Bosnia, but in other places all the people that have gone to school speak Greek, and the distinguished families also use Italian, because many officials serve in foreign countries and many youngsters are sent to the seminaries of Padova and Naples (Albanian: Shtojmë vetëm se besimi ynë është ortodoks, jemi të gjithë nën kryesinë e një peshkopi dhe lidhemi në pikëpamje fetare me patrikun e Konstandinopojës; flasim shqip, atë gjuhë që flitet në Shqipërinë e afërme dhe deri në Bosnje, po në vende të ndryshme të gjithë të mësuarit flasin greqisht, e familjet më të shquara përdorin edhe italishten, nga shkaku se shumë oficerë shërbejnë në vende të huaja dhe shumë të rinj dërgohen në seminarin e Padovës dhe të Napolit...)
  7. ^ Studime historike (1964). "Dokumente: Kapiteni Dedoviç, Vjenë, më 30 korrik 1787. (English: Documents: Captain Dedowitch, Vienna, July 30th, 1787)". Studime historike (English: Historical Studies) (in Albanian) (4).
  8. ^ Ndarurinze, Renate (2008). Albanien entdecken: Auf den Spuren Skanderbegs (in German). Berlin: Trescher Verlag. p. 243. ISBN 3897941252.
  9. ^ Ulqini, K. "Phénomènes de l'ancienne organisation sociale à Himara et à Suli". Ethnographie albanaise (in French). XV (1987). Tirana: 201.
  10. ^ "I see that this place is full of olive groves"... in: Pouqueville, F.C.H.L., Voyage en Morée, à Constantinople, en Albanie et dans plusieurs autres parties de l'Empire Ottoman pendant les années 1798, 1799, 1800 et 1801. Paris Chez Gabon 1805. [1]
  11. ^ Elsie, Robert (December 2000). A dictionary of Albanian religion, mythology, and folk culture. New York University Press. p. 65. ISBN 0814722148.
  12. ^ Reed Fred A.. Salonica Terminus: travels into the Balkan nightmare. Talonbooks, 1996 ISBN 9780889223684, p. 102: "a mixed Greek-Albanian village called Qeparo nestled in a narrow valley."
  13. ^ Sotiri, Natasha (2001). E folmja dhe toponimia e Qeparoit (in Albanian). Academy of Sciences of Albania. p. 13. ISBN 9992775904. Kështu, banorët e Qeparoit janë njëgjuhësh, shqipfolës, megjithëse janë fare pranë me qytetin e Himarës, banorët e së cilës janë dygjuhësh (shqip dhe greqishtfolës). Në krahun tjetër të Himarës vjen fshati Vuno, i cili edhe ai është shqipfolës; pas Vunoit vjen Dhërmiu, që është shqip dhe greqishtfolës. (in English: Thus the inhabitants of Qeparo are monolingual, Albanian speaking, although we are very near to the town of Himara, whose inhabitants are bilingual (Albanian and Greek speaking). On the other side of Himara is the village of Vuno, which also is Albanian speaking, after Vuno comes Dhermi, which is Albanian and Greek speaking)
  14. ^ Zeqo, Mojkom (July 2008). "Himara - princeshe e gjenezave te mugeta" (PDF). Gazeta Rrenjet (in Italian and Albanian). Hasan Aliaj. p. 2. Retrieved 23 August 2010.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  15. ^ Reed Fred A.. Salonica Terminus: travels into the Balkan nightmare. Talonbooks, 1996 ISBN 9780889223684, p. 102: "a mixed Greek-Albanian village called Qeparo nestled in a narrow valley."
  16. ^ Reed Fred A.. Salonica Terminus: travels into the Balkan nightmare. Talonbooks, 1996 ISBN 9780889223684, p. 102: "Soon after leaving Himarë, the convoy made its first stop, in a mixed Greek-Albanian village called Qeparo nestled in a narrow valley. The chicken distribution was orderly..."
  17. ^ Hammond Nicholas Geoffrey Lemprière. Epirus: the geography, the ancient remains, the history and topography of Epirus and adjacent areas. Clarendon P., 1967, p. 122: ""to the Greek-speaking village of Qeparo."
  18. ^ Reed Fred A.. Salonica Terminus: travels into the Balkan nightmare. Talonbooks, 1996 ISBN 9780889223684, p. 102: "a mixed Greek-Albanian village called Qeparo nestled in a narrow valley."
  19. ^ Gregorič, Nataša. "Contested Spaces and Negotiated Identities in Dhermi/Drimades of Himare/Himara area, Southern Albania" (PDF). University of Nova Gorica. p. 63. Retrieved 2010-08-15. In their day-to-day conversations locals of Dhermi, Palase, and Himara mainly use a Greek dialect and partly a southern Albanian (Tosk) dialect, while the locals of Ilias, Vuno, Qeparo, Kudhes, and Pilur mainly speak the Albanian tosk dialect
  20. ^ Gjinari, Jorgji (1989). Dialektet e gjuhës shqipe (in Albanian). Academy of Sciences of Albania, Institute of Linguistics. p. 57.
  21. ^ Totoni, M (1971). Dialektologjia shqiptare I, Vëzhgime rreth të folmeve të Kurveleshit (English: Albanian dialectology I, Observations on the Language of Kurvelesh) (in Albanian). p. 85.

Further reading