Thraco-Illyrian
Thraco-Illyrian | |
---|---|
(proposed) | |
Geographic distribution | Balkans |
Linguistic classification | Indo-European
|
Proto-language | Proto-Thraco-Illyrian |
Subdivisions |
Hypothetical Indo-European phylogenetic clades |
---|
Balkan |
Other |
The term Thraco-Illyrian refers to a hypothesis according to which the Daco-Thracian and Illyrian languages comprise a distinct branch of Indo-European. Thraco-Illyrian is also used as a term merely implying a Thracian-Illyrian interference, mixture or sprachbund, or as a shorthand way of saying that it is not determined whether a subject is to be considered as pertaining to Thracian or Illyrian. Downgraded to a geo-linguistic concept, these languages are referred to as Paleo-Balkan.
The linguistical hypothesis was especially current in the early 20th century, but after the 1960s it was seriously called into question. New publications argued that no strong evidence for Thraco-Illyrian exists, and that the two language-areas show more differences than correspondences (Vladimir Georgiev, Ivan Duridanov , Eric Hamp, et al.), whereas more recent linguists like Sorin Paliga have argued that based on the available data, Illyrian and Thracian were mutually intelligible or at very least formed a dialect continuum in a way comparable to Czech-Slovak and Spanish-Portuguese or Continental Scandinavian languages (Danish, Norwegian and Swedish).
Linguistic contact and similarity
The Vardar, South Morava and Great Morava rivers are generally considered to approximate the border between the Illyrian and Thracian spheres, in the west and east respectively.[1] However, Thracian and Illyrian did not have a clear-cut frontier.[2] There was also, clearly, significant interaction between the Illyrian and Thracian spheres, with some Thracian groups occupying the Illyrian sphere and vice versa; the identity of some groups as Illyrian or Thracian has also remained unclear,[3] or, in some instances, a Thraco-Illyrian mix.[4] Such factors reinforce the impression that many similarities between the Illyrian and Thracian lexes resulted from language contact.[5]
Other scholars, such as Romanian linguist and historian Ion Russu, argue that there were major similarities between Illyrian and Thracian and so a shared, ancestral linguistic branch is probable, rather than them forming a sprachbund.[2] Among the Thraco-Illyrian correspondences noted by I. I. Russu are the following:
Illyrian | Daco-Thracian | Remarks |
---|---|---|
Abroi | Abre- | Abre- is an element taken from certain Thracian anthroponyms |
Aploi, Aplus, Apulia | Apuli, Appulus, Apulum | |
Bilia, Bilios | Bila | |
Dardi, Dardani | Dardanos, Darda-para | |
Saprinus | Sapri-sara | |
Separi | Sapaioi | |
Sita | Sita, Seita | |
Tribulium | Triballi, Tribanta | |
Zorada | Zar-, Zur- |
Not many Thraco-Illyrian correspondences are definite, and a number may be incorrect, even from the list above. Sorin Paliga (2002) however states: "According to the available data, we may surmise that Thracian and Illyrian were mutually understandable, e.g. like Czech and Slovak, in one extreme, or like Spanish and Portuguese, at the other."
Other linguists however argue that Illyrian and Thracian were different Indo-European branches which later converged through contact. It is also of significance that Illyrian languages still have not been classified whether they were centum or satem language, while it is undisputed that Thracian was a satem language by the Classical Period (the satem nature of proto-Thracian is disputed, Olteanu 2002).
Due to the fragmentary attestation of both Illyrian and Thraco-Dacian, the existence of a Thraco-Illyrian branch remains controversial. Evidence of a Thraco-Illyrian branch has also been sought in the Albanian language, which might have developed from either a Thraco-Dacian language with Illyrian influences or an Illyrian language with Thraco-Dacian influences, or from a totally unattested Balkan Indo-European language that was closely related to Illyrian and Messapic.[6][7]
See also
- Albanian language
- Balkan sprachbund
- Classification of Thracian
- Dacian language
- Paleo-Balkan languages
- Romanian words of possible Dacian origin (and comparison with Albanian words)
- Albanian–Romanian linguistic relationship
- Thracian language
- Venetic language
Notes
- ^ The place of Paeonian remains unclear.[8] Not much has been determined in the study of Paeonian, and some linguists do not recognize a Paeonian area separate from Illyrian or Thracian. The place of Ancient Macedonian is also undetermined. Paliga (2002) states: "It is therefore difficult to say whether the ancient Macedonians spoke an idiom closer to Thracian, Illyrian, Greek or a specific idiom."[citation needed]
References
- ^ Balkans
- ^ a b Russu 1969.
- ^ Wilkes, J. J. The Illyrians, 1992, ISBN 0-631-19807-5., p. 85, "Whether the Dardanians were an Illyrian or a Thracian people has been much debated..."
- ^ Wilkes et al., 1992.
- ^ Hemp, Georgiev 'et al.
- ^ Fortson, Benjamin W. (2004). Indo-European Language and Culture. Blackwell Publishing. p. 390. ISBN 1-4051-0316-7.
The widespread assertion [of origin of the language] that it is the modern-day descendant of Illyrian, spoken in much the same region during classical times, makes geographic and historical sense but is linguistically untestable since we know so little about Illyrian. Competing hypotheses, likewise untestable, would derive Albanian from Thracian, another lost ancient language from farther east than Illyrian, or from Daco-Mysian ...
- ^ "From the end of the 19th century, a central place in this problem [the origin of Albanian] belongs to the question of the possible development of Albanian from one of the languages that were spoken in Antiquity in the northern part of the Balkans. However, this question itself resulted from speculations that were largely deductive. Two main theories consider Albanian as a descendant of either Illyrian or Thracian languages, respectively ..." Rusakov, Alexander. "Albanian". In: Mate Kapović (ed.). The Indo-European Languages. Second edition. Routledge, 2017. p. 555.
- ^ Paeonia
Bibliography
- Georgiev, Vladimir.
- Paliga, Sorin. Pre-Slavic place-names. 2002.
- Russu, Ion I. (1969). Limba traco-dacilor (in Romanian). Bucharest: Editura Stiintifica.
- Wilkes, J. J. (1992). The Illyrians. Blackwell. ISBN 06-3119-807-5.