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The Albanian Language

Spoken by just over 7.5 million people, Albanian is the official language of Albania and Kosovo, which is where most of its speakers reside.

Brief History of Origins:

  • Origins: The Albanian language can be traced back to the Indo-European language family. It is often considered a unique branch of this family and has evolved over the centuries.
  • Early Texts: The earliest known document in Albanian is a baptismal formula written in 1462, though the language likely has older roots.
  • Ottoman Influence: Under Ottoman rule, the Albanian language faced suppression, but it endured and has absorbed many Turkish words.
  • 20th Century: Albanian was standardised in the 20th century, with two primary dialects, Gheg and Tosk, forming the basis of modern Standard Albanian.
  • Albanian was written using various different alphabets, including Greek and is now based on the Latin alphabet.

Number of Speakers:

Around 6 million people speak Albanian as a native language.
It’s also spoken by Albanian diaspora communities around the world, including Italy, Greece, Germany, and the USA.

Where it is an Official Language:

  • Official Language in Albania: Albania has designated Albanian as its official language.
  • Co-official Status: It’s also a co-official language in Kosovo and parts of North Macedonia.
  • Minority Language: Albanian is recognised as a minority language in other countries such as Italy, Montenegro, Serbia, and Romania.

Example of Text:

Here is a simple example of Albanian text with its English translation:
Albanian: “Të gjithë njerëzit lindin të lirë dhe të barabartë në dinjitet dhe të drejta.”
English: “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.”

Where it is Used and How:

  • In Albania and Kosovo: Used in government, education, media, and daily communication.
  • Diaspora Communities: Used by Albanian communities abroad in family settings, cultural events, and community gatherings.
  • Literature and Arts: A rich tradition of folklore, music, and literature is expressed in the Albanian language.

Examples of English Words Used in Albanian:

These words reflect the influence of technology and global business in contemporary Albania.

  • “Komputer” (Computer)
  • “Internet” (Internet)
  • “Menaxher” (Manager)

Albanian Words Absorbed into English:

Although the influence of Albanian on English is minimal, some words might have indirect connections through other languages. An example is:
“Baltë” (Mud): Some scholars have proposed a link between this word and “bald,” in the sense of bare or uncovered ground, though this connection is debated.

 

The Albanian language is rich and unique, reflecting the country’s complex history and cultural diversity. As Albania continues to engage globally, the language evolves, absorbing new words and spreading its influence. It stands as a symbol of national identity for Albanians, both in their home country and throughout the world.

 

Our Albanian translation specialists work with brands such as ColArt, FIFA and Canon, who want to be able to convey their message to people living in Albania and Kosovo or other communities living in the Balkans.

Brightlines offer a variety of different translation services for those businesses who want to interact with their Albanian-speaking customers, including production services, voiceovers and quality assurance.

 

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Our translation services - FAQ

Do you use native translators?

Yes, always. All our translators are native speakers and most are still resident in their native country. We pride ourselves on ensuring that all Brightlines’ translators are native. We do not accept applications from non-native candidates or allow them to register on our online recruitment database. All our translators are rigorously tested.

How long will the translations take?

The turnaround for the translation will depend on the word count. As a rough guide, assume that the translators can comfortably process about 2500 words of non-specialised text per day. Proofreading can effectively be completed on a basis of 4000-6000 words a day. Our minimum turnaround time is usually about three days, although it is possible to shorten this if you are in a rush for the final files and we will always be happy to discuss this with you.

What is the variation in your translators’ experience and qualifications? Are they native speakers? Will the cost increase if we use a more experienced translator?

All our translators have to go through a series of tests to make sure they are as good as they say they are, and only if they pass are they allowed to work for Brightlines. There is quite a range of experience and qualifications, but all translators have a minimum of five years’ experience. All translators translate into their mother-tongue without exception and are generally based in-country so they are up-to-date with the local language. We match translators with projects/clients depending on the subject matter, and most of our translators have industry experience in their speciality – there is no better experience than being immersed professionally in the industry they specialise in. Our costs are based on translator experience, speciality (i.e. medical, creative, scientific) and the language choice.

Which languages can you translate into?

We have an extensive database with hundreds of trusted and tested translators covering all commercial languages. If you cannot see the language or dialect you need please ask.

I don’t know the word count; can you base the quote on the number of pages?

Our pricing structure is based on a rate-per-word, but we can estimate from a page count. If we can’t see the source document then we would usually estimate between 300 – 500 words a page depending on the density of the text and the presence of photos and images.

Does the translation need to be proofread?

Brightlines is an ISO 9001:2015 certified company. This means that quality is safeguarded. We adhere to the “four-eyes principle” and translations are always checked by a second professional proofreader (who is not the translator). If the translation is for internal use and reference purposes only (i.e. not to be published, distributed or used in a court of law), or you simply don’t wish to have proofreading, we can remove the proofreading stage.

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If you need Albanian translations, get in touch with our team, or get a quick quote.