Peripheral Latinity in Albanian

H. Haarmann in Der lateinische Lehnwortschatz im Albanischen ([The Latin Word Contributions in Albanian], Hamburger Philologische Studien, XIX, Hamburg: Helmut Buske, 1972) has shown that Albanian contains a large Latinate element. Haarmann continues a tradition which extends to the founding of linguistics as a modern discipline. In recent times E. Cabej & H. Mihaescu have done much diachronic work concerning Lat-Albanian interaction. Haarmann relies heavily on their work & his main objective is to compile an exhaustive list of loan words arranged in semantic categories & provided with gloss & Latin etymon. The work contains a survey of prior Romano-Albanian research, topics on Lat-P-Albanian contact, Latin influence on Albanian derivation, the Lat element in toponymy, & comments on methodology. Its originality lies in its editorial efforts & semantic categorizations; its major weakness is the lack of interpretation. Haarmann has compiled similar studies on Lat influences in Britain. A similar effort for North Africa would be welcomed. A. Sbragia