Ardijanspeaking

Ardijan is a small, endangered language traditionally spoken by the Ardian people, a subgroup of the Arberësh (Arvanites) community in southern Albania and northern Greece. The language belongs to the Albanian language family and is closely related to Tosk Albanian, with some distinct phonetic and lexical differences. Ardijan is primarily spoken in the regions of Gjirokastër and Vlorë in Albania, as well as parts of the Peloponnese in Greece, particularly around the town of Kalamata.

The origins of Ardijan are tied to the migration of Arvanite communities from central Albania to the Balkans during the late medieval period. Over time, the dialect evolved due to isolation and cultural exchange with neighboring Greek-speaking populations. Unlike standard Albanian, Ardijan retains some archaic features and has incorporated loanwords from Greek, reflecting its historical and geographical context.

Ardijan is considered endangered, with most speakers being elderly, and the language is gradually being replaced by Albanian and Greek. Efforts to preserve and revitalize Ardijan include documentation projects, linguistic research, and educational initiatives aimed at younger generations. The language is not standardized, and its written form is based on the Albanian Latin alphabet, though it lacks formal literary traditions.

Cultural practices associated with Ardijan include folk music, traditional clothing, and oral storytelling, which often feature distinct linguistic elements. The language also plays a role in maintaining a sense of ethnic identity among the Arberësh community. Linguists continue to study Ardijan to better understand its structure and its place within the broader Albanian linguistic landscape.