The History and the Creation of Standard Albanian Language and the Role of Elbasan Dialect in this Development

Abstract

Every country represents and identifies itself, through its mother tongue, everywhere in the world. If we focus on this
matter,we will understand the importance of taking the so-called representative version of a language or its standard version, the
existence of every language and nation that uses it.In this context, we naturally will arise the question: When and how is created the
standard Albanian language? Which is the way that it has pursued to consolidate itself ? What were the general historical, political and
social factors ? Which are in favor of or sometimes even a hindrance to the creation of this version ? What is the role of Elbasan dialect
in this development? This study aims to present the history of the foundation of standard Albanian language starting from the early
fourteenth century till nowadays. We will highlight the rates that have been based on two principal Albanian dialects in different historical
stages, we will also represent the general historical factors and social policy that defined “tosk”, (southern )version on which the Albanian
standard model is created. This paper will focus on the importance of Elbasan dialect or elbasanishtes, as a variant that was proposed
to be settled as the official standart language, but it never becomes. We will draw out language and nonlanguage circumstances where
such decisions were based on and at the same time, rejected the reality. This study will help linguists who study the history and the
creation of the standard Albanian language.