Tosk

Tosk refers to the southern Albanian ethnolinguistic group as well as to the dialects of the Albanian language spoken in southern Albania. It is one of the two primary dialect groups of Albanian, the other being Gheg, which is spoken in the north. Linguistically, Tosk and Gheg differ in various phonological and lexical features, and the distinction has influenced Albanian standardization and regional identity.

Geographically, Tosk-speaking communities have traditionally been concentrated in the southern regions of Albania, including areas along the Adriatic and Ionian coasts and the interior south. Smaller Tosk-speaking communities are also found in neighboring areas and among Albanian diaspora communities abroad. The divide between Tosk and Gheg has historically intersected with political and cultural developments in Albania, contributing to regional perspectives on language and identity.

Language and standardization, in particular, have highlighted the role of Tosk in shaping modern Albanian. In the 20th century, the standardized Albanian language was based largely on a Tosk dialect, a choice that influenced orthography, education, and official usage. This has been a point of reference in discussions about regional variation and national language policy.

Linguistic features commonly associated with Tosk include certain vowel and consonant patterns and particular verb forms that distinguish it from Gheg varieties. As with many dialect families, there is a spectrum of local subdialects within Tosk, reflecting historical settlement patterns and contact with neighboring languages and cultures.

See also: Albanian language; Gheg; Labëria.