By Arben Llalla. Translation Petrit Latifi
Summary:
The 1987 European project with researchers from most of the member states to prove through language, the presence of Albanians in the Hellenic state.
There are 696 villages in Greece, which have been and are inhabited by people with Albanian roots. The conclusions from the research of Albanian researchers such as Antonio Bellushi, Aristidh Kola, Jorgo Miha, Jorgo Maruga, Athanasio Cigo, Kazaqis, Panayotopoulos and others, show that the Albanians of Greece are divided into two groups, those who are local Arvanites, who have been known since ancient times and since the 4th-13th century, who are over 550 villages.
There are also about 150 villages inhabited by Albanians, whom the Greeks call allvanofonos (Albanian speakers) who came to Greece around the 1600s. Mainly, the villages that were inhabited and are inhabited by the population that speaks Albanian at home are located in the area of Epirus, some are in the area of Thrace, Peloponnese, Thessaly, Livadia. On the islands of Corfu, Specta, Hydra, Psaron, Andros, Salamis, Io, Thira (Santorini) and elsewhere.
European Community Study
In 1987, a group of the European Community visited Greece from 4-10 October 1987, to conduct a study on the presence of the Albanian element and the preservation of the ethnic origin of the language. The trip was organized by the European Bureau for the Study of Lesser-Used Languages under the supervision of the Commission of the European Community. The group consisted of the renowned Arbëresh scholars Urat Antonio Bellushi (Italy), Rikardo Alvares, Kolon Anget, Javier Boski, Joseph San Sokasao (all Spanish), Onon Falkoma (Dutch), Wolfgang Jeniges (Belgian), Robert Martin, Stefan Moal (French), Col O’Cinseala (Irish).
The aim was for the European representatives during the visit to come into contact with the villages inhabited by people who speak the Arvanite language.
During the visit, the representatives of the European Community encountered many problems, including injuries. However, the group of researchers did not stop until the end of the mission to bring very important scientific data on the presence of Albanians in Greece.
Villages where Albanian is spoken
The names of the villages below are given as they are pronounced in Greek, without being translated into Albanian. The reader can easily see that many of these village names have a pure Albanian root and meaning, and these names have resisted the changes that have occurred over the years.
In words written in capital letters, the root and meaning clearly indicate their origin or meaning in Albanian. Many village names consist of combinations of Greek and Albanian words.
While the village names in brackets are villages where the Arvanite language is rarely spoken and is on the verge of extinction. 1-The Attica region has about 84 villages, among which we mention: Qeratea, Kuvaradhes, Kalivia, Koropi, Kapandhriti, Mazi, SHPATA, LOPËSI, MARATHONA, BUJA, Menidhi, Shpatanxiq, Gramatiko, Kalamos, Markopulo, Markopulo of Orapisë, Moilesi, Malakasa, Kakoshalësi, HALKUÇI, Sikamino, (KUKUVAJNË), Anoljosia, (Katoliosia), Kamatero, HASI, Aspropirgo, (Brahami).
2. The Megarindha area we mention: Ambelaqia, Elensis, Madra, Magula, Vila, Mazi, KRYEKUQI, Salamina.
The capital of the island of Salamina, Kuluri, is inhabited by Arvanites, and the cities of the island Muqi and Ambelaqi are inhabited by the Arvanite population. Tasos Karadi, an Arvanite writer from Salamina, in an interview for an Albanian television channel, said that today there are over 40,000 Arvanites on the island of Salamina.
3. The Aegean area has the island of Angjistri.
4. The Thiva area includes the villages: Hastia, DOMVRANA, KOKOSHI, Ksironomi, Karadas, Frimokastro, Paleopanaggia, VAJA, Kasnesi, Kaskaveli today Leondaris, Parapungaj, Kapareli, BALCA, KOKLA, Kleboçari Pirgo, Lutufi, Ambeloshalësi, (Tahi), (Agjio Theodori), Neohori, Darimari, Mustafadhes, Dervenoshalësi, Rapendosa, Kakoniskiri, Kavashala, Stefani, Klideti, SHKURTA, VATHI, (KRIBAÇI), MURIQI, SHKIMETAR, Spaidhes, Latani, KARDHICA, Braci, Koqino, Sirç, Lukisia.
5. Livadhjas area we mention: Stiri, Kiruaki, Zeriqi, Kukura, Zagara, Mazi, Vrastamites, Kutumula, Luci, Pavlo, Steveniko.
6. The area of Korinthos consists of the villages: Aggio Theodori, (Lutraqi), BISHA, KLIMENDI, BALCA ede, BALCA e Vegël, LOPĕSI, Dusha, Kastanja, BIÇA, (KUÇI), Almiri, Katakali, Bashi, BIÇA, (LALOTI), SULI, (Ibrahim Bey), MAÇANI, Galataqi, Rito, Katakali, Sofikon, Karfos, Angjelokastro, Voivoda, Zemeno, Panariti, Mukli, Vasiliko, Vladusa, Velina, Bozika, Atikia, Kriavrisi, Pala Korinthi, (Assos), Xiloqerëza, Limohori.
7. The area of Locridha we mention: Livanades, Martino, MALËSINA, Proskina, Pirgos, Mazi, Larina, Surpi, Theologos.
8. The district of Argos we mention: Berbati, Limnes, (Kuçopodhi), (Varduva), (PRIFTJANI), (Pasha), (Honika), (Bundja),
9.The island of Nafplio we mention: Maneshi, Ledra, Pulakidha, Merbaka, Plataniti, Heli, Anifi, Dimena, (GERBËSI), (Kofini), Kamari.
10. The area of Trisinia; we mention: (Poros), Valario, METHANA, Vromolimi, Kosona, Agios Theodoros, Megalo Horio, Megalo Potami, Kameni Hora, , Ano Fanari, Karaxha, Lesia, Bafi, Ortoliti.
11. The Ermonidos area consists almost of the islands that are historically known as large centers inhabited by the Arvanites and where the heroes, the first heads of the Greek state, emerged.
12. Mantinias has Dara. Kranidhi, Porto Heli, Ermioni, Sabariza, Iliokastro, Didimi. 12-Mantinias has Dara.
13. In Kalavrita is (Lukuria).
14 Hydra, (SPECA), FURRNI, Kranidhi, Porto Heli, Ermioni, Sabariza, Iliokastro, Didimi.
14. For the district of Patras, it is said that two centuries ago the inhabitants spoke mainly the Arvanite language and there were women who did not know Greek at all.
Today, the Arvanite language is auxiliary and is used mainly in the assemblies of elders or when the speakers do not want to teach others what they are discussing among themselves. (SULI), (MIRA), (Lalikosta), (MIRTIZA), (Franga), (BUKURA), (Verdoni), (HAJKALI), (Krali), (Harbilejka), (Lefkopetra,) (Lalikosta), (Nikoreika), (Kareika), (Franguleika) .
15. In the region of Ilias, the Arvanite language has almost disappeared and is even mentioned. (Kumani), (BËNDETI), (Kapelitu), (MALIQI), (Dorisa), (Nemuta), (Miles), (KALOLESHI), (Agjio Ana), (Psari), Kombothekra.
16. Trifilias Region mention: SULIMA, LAPI, RIPËSI, Piça, Hiristohori, Psari, Kuvela, Ano Kopanaqi, Agrilia, Varibopi, Vidhisova, Klesura, DREDHË, SULI, Shirk.
In the villages of Sulima and Lapsi, the Arvanite language is spoken as a second language. While in the villages of Ripës, Piça, Kuvela, Agrilia, Psari and Hirisohori, mainly the old men speak the Arvanite language well.
17. Karystia Province, mention: KALANA, Baba, Drama, VRESTIDHE, PRINJA, Kalamaqi, ZAKARIA, Thimi, Kakogjoni, Koqini, Figja, BASHAJ, DARDANI, (Bezhani), Fokei, Melison, Agios Dimitrios, MBRETI, KRIEZA, LEPURA, LALA, ZERBISHA, VIRA, Koskina, (Marmari), Mesohoria, Nikoleta, Kutumula, Armiropotamos, HANI, Agios Apostoli, Polipotamos, Alonja, Kisuri, Kapsala, QELA.
18. The island of Andros has the villages: Gavro, Aggio Petro, Ateni, BAÇI, Remata, Katahalos, Arni, BURKOTI, Ano Aprovatu, Kato Aprovatu, GIDHE, Kato Fellos, Pano Fellos, LIVADHESA, Psoriareza, Galios, AGJINI, Kalamos, Kalivari, Hartes, Ano Varidhi, Kato Varidhi, KUMARI, Kaloqerini, Vitali, Amolohos, Sidhonda.
Reference
Balkan Academia 