TIRANA, Feb 21 /ATA/ – International Mother Language Day was marked in Albania on Saturday with an event highlighting the richness of the Albanian language and its dialects.
The day, observed worldwide to promote linguistic diversity and prevent language extinction, was commemorated by the Center for Openness and Dialogue (COD) with an event titled “Dialects of the Albanian Language and Arbëresh.”
The discussion focused on regional dialects as a core element of national identity, tracing the evolution of spoken Albanian through the centuries and its relationship with the standardized language.
Arbëresh, the historical variant spoken by Italy’s Albanian diaspora, was presented as living evidence of the language’s historical continuity and as a bridge linking Albania with Arbëresh communities abroad.
Linguists and academics including Rami Memushaj, Ledi Shamku, Ardian Doka, Anila Omari and Pëllumb Xhufi took part in the event, which also featured performances by the National Folk Song and Dance Ensemble of the National Theatre of Opera and Ballet, blending scholarship with cultural expression.
International Mother Language Day was proclaimed by UNESCO in 1999 to promote linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism.
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