In the 1920s, an American mission would arrive in Albania to work to overcome the consequences of World War I. American Red Cross missionaries would provide shelter, food, medical care, and education to the Albanian population. One Albanian named Kolë was much sought after by American missionaries in the 1920s. He was reported to have spoken 18 languages and all of them fluently.
In their mission, they would be assisted by various Albanians who would offer their services for physical security, transportation, translation, etc.
During their stay in Albania, American missionaries would document their work with photographs and give their impressions of the country.
The Albanians’ language skills and their behavior would impress foreign missionaries, and for this reason they would make positive assessments.
On the list of characters that missionaries described as extraordinary were two translators.
In the archives of the American Library of Congress there is a photo of the main translator named Kolë.
He was considered by American missionaries to be an honest and trustworthy man.
Kola had worked for 30 years at the French consulate in Shkodra, and in 1920 he had joined the Red Cross mission as a translator and confidential messenger.
“All the American mission staff say he is a ‘jewel’ and that is a great compliment for a man who is handy,” the caption accompanying the photo reads.
His reputation would also spread abroad, where American newspapers would write about the abilities of the Albanian who spoke 18 different languages ”in a clever way.”
The American newspaper article would highlight the fact that Kola, with his communication skills, managed to be a mediator between Albanian tribes involved in various armed conflicts.
“Kola, the main translator for the American Red Cross mission representatives in Albania, has the reputation among locals of being the “smartest speaker” in Albania.”
He is said to speak 18 languages and all of them fluently.
This is something unusual in Albania.
This means that he is able to speak to each of the country’s many tribes, without saying a word that could leave the possibility of misunderstanding as if he is taking sides in the clashes between the parties.
He has been an important factor in keeping the American aid mission out of the fray.
“Kola is one of the few residents of Tirana who does not carry a firearm,” the Minnesota newspaper article of May 3, 1920, reads.
Another character with extraordinary communication skills who is evidenced in the American mission archive is a little boy who spoke 5 different languages.
In the caption accompanying the photo, the boy from Tirana is described as a “young and promising talent” in the field of linguistics.
“This Albanian boy speaks 5 different languages.
He was employed by American missionaries as a translator and messenger.
“This boy never went to school but was taught by his father, the prefect of Tirana, who graduated from the American College of Constantinople,” is the caption accompanying the boy’s photo.
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