Illyrian languages

The Illyrian languages are a group of Indo-European languages that were spoken in the western part of the Balkans If the Messapian language was close enough to the Illyrian languages to be considered an Illyrian language, then Illyrian would also have been spoken in southern Italy. in former times by ethnic groups identified as Illyrians: Delmatae, Pannoni, Illyrioi, Autariates, Taulanti (see List of Illyrian tribes). The Illyrian languages are generally, but not unanimously, reckoned as centum languages.

Some sound-changes and other language features are deduced from what remains of the Illyrian languages, but because no writings in Illyrian are known, there is not sufficient evidence to clarify its place within the Indo-European language family aside from its probable centum nature. Because of the uncertainty, most sources provisionally place Illyrian on its own branch of Indo-European, though its relation to other languages, ancient and modern, continues to be studied and debated.

Language affinity

Further than belonging to the Indo-European language family, probably as a centum language, the relation of Illyrian to other ancient and modern languages remains unclear because no writings in Illyrian have been found. Today, the main source of authoritative information about the Illyrian language consists of a handful of Illyrian words cited in classical sources, and numerous examples of Illyrian anthroponyms, ethnonyms, toponyms and hydronyms.

A grouping of Illyrian with the Messapian language has been proposed for about a century, but remains an unproven hypothesis. The theory is based on classical sources, archaeology, as well as onomastic considerations. Messapian material culture bears a number of similarities to Illyrian material culture. Some Messapian anthroponyms have close Illyrian equivalents.

A relation to the Venetic language and Liburnian language, once spoken in northeastern Italy and Liburnia respectively, is also proposed.

A grouping of Illyrian with the Thracian and Dacian language in a "Thraco-Illyrian" group or branch---an idea popular in the first half of the 20th century---is now generally rejected due to a lack of sustaining evidence, and due to what may be evidence to the contrary.

A hypothesis that the modern Albanian language is a surviving Illyrian language remains very controversial among linguists. The identification of Illyrian as a centum language is widely but not unanimously accepted, although it is generally admitted that from what remains of the language, centum examples appear to greatly outnumber satem examples. One of the few satem examples in Illyrian appears to be Osseriates, probably from PIE *eghero-, "lake". Only a few Illyrian items have been linked to Albanian, and these remain tentative or inconclusive for the purpose of determining a close relation.

Outside influences

The Ancient Greek language (and also the Ancient Macedonian language) would have become an important external influence on Illyrian-speakers who occupied lands adjacent to ancient Greeks and Ancient Macedonians, and this is indicated by the adoption of Greek names by prominent Illyrians (Cleitus, Glaukias) in the south. As Greek influence increased, some Illyrian-speakers would have abandoned their language and adopted Greek.

Invading Celts who settled on lands occupied by Illyrians brought the Illyrians into contact with the Celtic languages. Intensive contact may have happened in what is now Bosnia, Croatia, and Serbia. Because of this intensive contact, and because of conflicting classical sources, it is unclear whether some ancient tribes were Illyrian or Celtic (see for example Scordisci). Thracians and Paionians also occupied lands populated by Illyrians, bringing Illyrians into contact with the Thracian language and Paionian language. Evidence of Thraco-Illyrian admixture is found among the Dardani in particular, while Paionians and Illyrians have a few names in common, such as Langarus.

Yet it was not Greek, Celtic, Thracian, or Paionian, but Latin that would come to displace Illyrian above the Jireček line. The Romans conquered all the lands in which Illyrian was spoken, and it is quite possible that Illyrian became extinct early in the Common era, perhaps even before the Slavic invasion of the Balkans. However, this is disputed by other scholars and linguists who maintain that the living Albanian language is a surviving Illyrian language.

Illyrian words

Only a few Illyrian words are cited in Classical sources by Roman or Greek writers:

brisa, "husk of grapes"; cf. Alb bërsi
mantía, "bramblebush"; cf. Alb (Tosk) mën "mulberry bush", (Gheg) mandë
oseriates, "lakes"; akin to Old Church Slavonic ozero, Lith ezeras
rhinos, "fog, cloud"; cf. OAlb ren, mod. Alb re "cloud"
sabaia, sabaium, sabaius, "a type of beer"; akin to Eng sap, Lat. sapere "to taste", Skt sabar "sap, juice, nektar", Avest. višāpa "having poisonous juices", Arm ham, Greek apalós "tender, delicate", Old Church Slavonic sveptǔ "bee's honey"
sibina (Lat.), sibyna (Lat.), sybina (Lat.); σιβυνη (Gk.), σιβυνης (Gk.), συβινη (Gk.), ζιβυνη (Gk.): "a hunting spear", generally, "a spear", "pike"; an Illyrian word according to Festius, citing Ennius; is compared to συβηνη (Gk.), "flute case", a word found in Aristophanes' Thesmophoriazusai; the word appears in the context of a barbarian speaking. Akin to Farsi zôpîn, Arm səvīn "spit"
tertigio, "merchant"; akin to Old Church Slavonic trĭgĭ "market", Lith tirgus

Some additional words have been extracted by linguists from toponyms, hydronyms, anthroponyms, etc.:

lugo, "a pool";
teuta Teuta< PIE *teuta-, "people"
Bosona, "running water" (Possible origin of the name "Bosnia", in Bosnian; Bosna)

Illyrian names

Agirrus
Agron
Annaeus, Annaius
Ballaios
Bardyllis
Bato
Birkenna (daughter of the Illyrian king Bardyllis, and one of the wives of Pyrrhus)
Blodus
Boria
Dasius
Dazas
Ditus
Epicadus (attested only in lands adjacent to ancient Greece)
Epicaris
Epidius
Genthena
Gentius, Genthios
Glavus
Grabos
Laedio
Laiscus
Madena
Messor
Monounios (Monunius)
Mytilus (successor of Monounios)
Pinnes (Pinnius, Pinneus)
Plare(n)s
Plator, Platoris (gen.)
Pleuratus
Posantio
Pravaius
Scerdis
Skerdilaidas
Tatta
Temus
Teuda
Teuta
Thana
Vendes
Verzo
Zanatis
Ziraeus

Illyrian names borrowed from Greek:

Glaukias, akin to Gk. glaukos, "gleaming, gray, gray-green, etc."
Kleitos, akin to Gk. kleinos, "renowned"

The following Illyrian names, all of which occur in inscriptions from the upper Neretva river valley near Konjic in Bosnia, are considered to derive from Celtic:

Boio
Bricussa
Iacus
Mallaius
Mascelio

References

Crossland, R. A., Linguistic problems of the Balkan area in the late prehistoric and early classical periods. Boardman, Edwards, Hammond and Sollberger 1982, 834--849.
Polomé, E. C., Balkan languages (Illyrian, Thracian and Daco-Moesian). Boardman, Edwards, Hammond and Sollberger 1982, 866--888.
Wilkes, John, The Illyrians. Blackwell Books, 1992.

Notes

External link

An incomplete Illyrian glossary

Ancient languages | Paleo-Balkan languages | Indo-European languages | Illyria

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