Examination of Albanian Language: Foreign Origin Words and Indo-European Linguistics
The claim that 93% of Albanian words have foreign origins has garnered significant attention, particularly within the context of Indo-European languages. To understand the veracity of such a claim, it is crucial to explore the linguistic landscape of Albanian, as well as compare it with other Indo-European languages.
Linguistic Origin and Foreign Influences
Albanian, like many languages, has a substantial number of foreign-origin words. The Albanian dictionary records that approximately 93% of words in the Albanian language have foreign origins, a statistic that is both notable and worth discussing. However, the purported exactness of this claim raises questions about its validity and the broader context of Indo-European languages.
Comparison with Other Indo-European Languages
English Language
The English language is a prime example of a heavily borrowed language. Around 60% of English vocabulary is derived from foreign languages, primarily Latin, French, and Germanic origins. This significant level of borrowing contributes to English being a highly fusional language. Furthermore, the percentage of foreign-origin words can increase, especially when considering technical and scientific terminology.
Romanian Language
Romanian also demonstrates substantial foreign influences, particularly from Latin, Slavic languages, and Turkish, with estimates suggesting around 70% of its vocabulary may be of non-native origin. This indicates a significant level of linguistic borrowing, which is not uncommon among languages that have undergone prolonged periods of cultural and linguistic contact.
Serbo-Croatian Language
The Serbo-Croatian language has a considerable number of loanwords from Turkish, German, and other languages. The precise percentage can vary, but it is evident that the language has absorbed significant foreign influences over time.
Contextualizing the Albanian Language
While the Albanian language's high proportion of foreign words is notable, it is challenging to definitively state that it holds the record among all Indo-European languages. This is due to varying methodologies and definitions of what constitutes a 'foreign' word. The claim of 93% foreign words in Albanian is a very big claim, and to substantiate it, a comprehensive linguistic work would be required to verify each and every word.
Linguistic Evolution and Borrowing
The absorption of foreign words is not limited to Albanian but is a common feature across many languages, especially those that have undergone significant historical, cultural, and linguistic contact. The process of borrowing words is not necessarily a function of time but of the need for a language to evolve and adapt to its environment.
Origin of Indo-European Languages
Speculations about the common ancestor of all Indo-European languages are often tied to theories of language evolution. However, the notion of a common proto-language does not preclude the heavy borrowing of words. The Sumerians and ancient Anatolians are often cited as potential sources for the common source of Indo-European languages, suggesting that the process of borrowing and evolution is an intrinsic part of linguistic development.
Proto-Albanian and Proto-Latin
Linguists generally agree that Proto-Albanian must have been very similar to Proto-Latin, and both languages might have been intelligible to each other. This suggests that the similarities between modern Albanian and Latin are not surprising but are a reflection of their common linguistic heritage.
In my opinion, the similarities between Albanian and Latin today are a result of their shared origin rather than an indicator of the high percentage of foreign-origin words. It is important to differentiate between linguistic heritage and modern foreign influences.
There is a need for more rigorous and comprehensive linguistic analysis to substantiate the claim of 93% foreign-origin words in Albanian. Until such analysis is conducted, the claim remains a significant but unproven assertion.