Balkan Linguistics in Italy: The Origins, Evolution, and Theoretical Trends

The history of Balkan linguistics (BL) as a linguistic discipline is traced to the second half of the nineteenth century when problems of Southeastern European plurilingualism were addressed at Germanic academic centers (Vienna, Leipzig, Berlin). The program of the Balkankommission (Balkan Commission) formed in Vienna (year unspecified) is outlined & the Balkan model developed within the Prague linguistic school is examined. It is noted that BL has never been officially recognized as a separate linguistic discipline at Italian universities, but Balkan studies have been conducted by Italian linguists in the following areas: (1) the linguistic situation at the Balkan peninsula before its Grecization & Latinization, (2) the Proto-Balkanic elements in Greek & Italic, (3) interlinguistic relations in Greco-Roman Balkania, (4) contacts between Byzantine Balkan & Slavic/Walachia Balkan areas, (5) Albanic studies, & (6) research in Balkanisms from a historical-linguistic perspective. Z. Dubiel