Languages
The languages that share these similarities belong to five distinct branches of the Indo-European languages:
- Albanian
- Hellenic (Greek)
- Romance languages (Romanian, Aromanian, Megleno-Romance and Istro-Romanian)
- Slavic languages (Bulgarian, Macedonian, Serbo-Croatian — especially the Torlakian dialect which is transitional between Macedonian, Bulgarian and Serbo-Croatian)
- Indo-Aryan (Roma/Gypsy & Balkan "Egyptian")
The Finnish linguist Jouko Lindstedt computed in 2000 a "Balkanization factor" which gives each Balkan language a score proportional with the number of features shared in the Balkan language area. The results were:
| Language | Score |
|---|---|
| Balkan Slavic | 11.5 |
| Albanian | 10.5 |
| Greek, Balkan Romance | 9.5 |
| Romani (Gypsy) | 7.5 |
In a narrower examination, Macedonian would actually score full a 12.0 points.
Another language that may have been influenced by the Balkan language union is the Judeo-Spanish variant that used to be spoken by Sephardi Jews living in the Balkans. The grammatical features shared (especially regarding the tense system) were most likely borrowed from Greek.
Read more about this topic: Balkan Sprachbund
Famous quotes containing the word languages:
“It is time for dead languages to be quiet.”
—Natalie Clifford Barney (1876–1972)
“People in places many of us never heard of, whose names we can’t pronounce or even spell, are speaking up for themselves. They speak in languages we once classified as “exotic” but whose mastery is now essential for our diplomats and businessmen. But what they say is very much the same the world over. They want a decent standard of living. They want human dignity and a voice in their own futures. They want their children to grow up strong and healthy and free.”
—Hubert H. Humphrey (1911–1978)
“Science and technology multiply around us. To an increasing extent they dictate the languages in which we speak and think. Either we use those languages, or we remain mute.”
—J.G. (James Graham)