| Thraco-Illyrian | |
|---|---|
| (proposed) | |
| Geographic distribution | Balkans |
| Linguistic classification | Indo-European
|
| Proto-language | Proto-Thraco-Illyrian |
| Subdivisions | |
| Language codes | |
| HypotheticalIndo-European phylogenetic clades |
|---|
| Balkan |
| Other |
The termThraco-Illyrian refers to a hypothesis according to which theDaco-Thracian andIllyrian languages comprise a distinct branch ofIndo-European. Thraco-Illyrian is also used as a term merely implying aThracian-Illyrianinterference,mixture orsprachbund, or as a shorthand way of saying that it is not determined whether a subject is to be considered as pertaining to Thracian or Illyrian. Downgraded to a geo-linguistic concept, these languages are referred to asPaleo-Balkan.
The linguistical hypothesis was especially current in the early 20th century, but after the 1960s it was seriously called into question. New publications argued that no strong evidence for Thraco-Illyrian exists, and that the two language-areas show more differences than correspondences (Vladimir Georgiev,Ivan Duridanov,Eric Hamp,et al.). It has also been pointed out that the onomastic studies carried out in the 20th century were conducted throughpan-Thracian andpan-Illyrian theoretical approaches, which are considered outdated in currenthistorical linguistics.[1]
TheVardar,South Morava andGreat Morava rivers are generally considered to approximate the border between the Illyrian and Thracian spheres, in the west and east respectively.[2] However, Thracian and Illyrian did not have a clear-cut frontier.[3]There was also, clearly, significant interaction between the Illyrian and Thracian spheres, with some Thracian groups occupying the Illyrian sphere and vice versa; the identity of some groups as Illyrian or Thracian has also remained unclear,[4] or, in some instances, a Thraco-Illyrian mix has been proposed.[5] Such factors reinforce the impression that many similarities between the Illyrian and Thracian lexes resulted fromlanguage contact.[6]
Other scholars, such as Romanian linguist and historianIon Russu, argue that there were major similarities between Illyrian and Thracian and so a shared, ancestral linguistic branch is probable, rather than them forming asprachbund.[3] Among the Thraco-Illyrian correspondences noted by I. I. Russu are the following:
| Illyrian | Daco-Thracian | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| Abroi | Abre- | Abre- is an element taken from certain Thraciananthroponyms |
| Aploi, Aplus, Apulia | Apuli, Appulus, Apulum | |
| Bilia, Bilios | Bila | |
| Dardi,Dardani | Dardanos,Darda-para | |
| Saprinus | Sapri-sara | |
| Separi | Sapaioi | |
| Sita | Sita, Seita | |
| Tribulium | Triballi, Tribanta | |
| Zorada | Zar-, Zur- |
Not many Thraco-Illyrian correspondences are definite, and a number may be incorrect, even from the list above.Sorin Paliga (2002) however states: "According to the available data, we may surmise that Thracian and Illyrian were mutually understandable, e.g. likeCzech andSlovak, in one extreme, or likeSpanish andPortuguese, at the other."
Other linguists however argue that Illyrian and Thracian were different Indo-European branches which later converged through contact. It is also of significance thatIllyrian languages still have not been classified whether they werecentum orsatem language, while it is undisputed that Thracian was asatem language by the Classical Period (the satem nature of proto-Thracian is disputed, Olteanu 2002).
Due to the fragmentary attestation of both Illyrian andThraco-Dacian, the existence of a Thraco-Illyrian branch remains controversial. Evidence of a Thraco-Illyrian branch has also been sought in theAlbanian language, which has been claimed to have developed from either an Illyrian language with Thraco-Dacian influences or a Thraco-Dacian language with Illyrian influences.[7][8] However, the arguments for such claims tend to be circular: for example, the kinship of the Albanian with the Thracian is affirmed by attributing Albanian traits to the Thracian.[9]
Due to the paucity of written evidence, what can be said with certainty in current research is that on the one hand a significant group ofshared Indo-European non-Romance cognates between Albanian and Romanian indicates at least contact with the 'Daco-Thraco-Moesian complex', and that on the other hand there is some evidence to argue that Albanian is descended from the 'Illyrian complex'.[10] On the basis of shared features and innovations, Albanian is grouped together withMessapic in the same branch in the current phylogenetic classification of theIndo-European language family, called 'Albanoid' or 'Illyric'.[11][12][13][14][15]
The widespread assertion [of origin of the language] that it is the modern-day descendant of Illyrian, spoken in much the same region during classical times, makes geographic and historical sense but is linguistically untestable since we know so little about Illyrian. Competing hypotheses, likewise untestable, would derive Albanian from Thracian, another lost ancient language from farther east than Illyrian, or from Daco-Mysian ...