Some Problems Concerning the Sanctification of Illyrian and Albanian Personal Names
LALAZARI FOR OUR KNOWLEDGE
LALAZAR[I?] FOR OUR KNOWLEDGE
Simon Klosi
Editorial note. On page 5 of our daily, a series of articles is published on issues of Albanian culture, language and tradition. These notes aim to help the reader better understand the origin and use of our names.
So far, 3,000 names published in our book have also been treated in this spirit. Efforts have also been made to correct the distortions that arise from the old administration and from foreign influences.
Creative Albanians have always been numerous in emigration, but they have always preserved their longing for the homeland.
In the field of names, as elsewhere, Illyrians and Albanians also faced restrictive phenomena and prohibitions at different times. On 11 January 1982, in Kosovo, a study titled “The Names of Albanians” was published, addressing many of these issues. It is said, for example, that in 1960 names such as Ilir, Lirij [?], Teuta, Taulant, Agron and others were prohibited, and the administration sought replacements for them.
Generally, a name is closely linked to a person’s identity and history.
The Albanians called this land Illyricum, and this is connected with the ancient history of our lands.
Most of the sanctified names or those used by foreigners do not correspond to Albanian tradition.
These remarks aim to protect Illyrian and Albanian names, to use them and respect them as a national treasure.
2
In this issue, we present some of the author’s main remarks concerning the use of names.
“A person’s name, the single distinctive identifying mark of the person, must be clear and in accordance with linguistic tradition.”
Albanians named children according to time and circumstances, but always while maintaining a link with local culture.
It is necessary to avoid graphic and phonetic distortions that compromise the meaning of the name.
The reprinting of these remarks is done in the reader’s interest and to encourage cultural debate.
At the end of this section, the author recalls that the problem is not merely linguistic, but also historical and national.
(from the previous issue)
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