An extenstive study based on onomastics has been undertaken by Radoslav Katičić which puts the Dardani language area in the Central Illyrian area (“Central Illyrian” consisting of most of ex-Yugoslavia, north of southern Montenegro to the west of Morava, excepting ancient Liburnia in the North – West, but perhaps extending into Pannonia in the north).

There are many words in Illyrian that have great similarity to Albanian like: sika – thika (knife), aspetos – i shpejtë (fast), bilia – bijë, bilë (daughter), aran – arë (field). Also names of places and names of Dardanian and Illyrian personalities in general like: Bardhyl – i bardhë (white), Dalmatia – delme, dele (sheep), Ulkin – ulk, ujq (wolf). Professor R. Katičić was initially professor at the University of Zagreb, then at Vienna.

References

Katičić, Radoslav (1964b) “Die neuesten Forschungen über die einhemiche Sprachschist in den Illyrischen Provinzen” in Benac (1964a) 9-58 Katičić, Radoslav (1965b) “Zur frage der keltischen und panonischen Namengebieten im römischen Dalmatien” ANUBiH 3 GCBI 1, 53-76

 Katičić, Radoslav. Ancient languages of the Balkans. The Hague – Paris (1976)