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Glite Dictionary
🏺 From Illyria 🗣️ An old language
Illyrian

Illyrian

1 9.9
An almost extinct language once spoken on the coast of the western Balkans
  • noun
  • /ɪˈlɪriən/
  • Specialized
: ilirio
  • "It's true, this is Illyrian," Bunguri says, brandishing the drinking cup.

Examples

  • The Illyrian people had a rich history along the Dalmatian coast before their language nearly disappeared.

  • There is continuity between the Illyrians and the culture of Albanians, the way they were organizing funerals, burials, tools, and decorations.

    Academic text (2007)

  • Despite the tides of humanity that have washed over the region since ancient times, Bunguri and the majority of other Albanians believe they are the direct descendants of the ancient Illyrians, a mysterious people thought to have appeared in the western Balkans around 1000 B.C.

    Academic text (2007)

  • The archaeologist discovered ancient artifacts that provided insight into the Illyrian language and culture.

  • Linguists are studying the remains of Illyrian to understand its connections to other Indo-European languages.

Surface Forms

Illyrian singular
Illyrians plural

Morphology

Illyrian = Illyria (transparent) = Illyria + ian

The noun is directly formed from the place-name 'Illyria' with the productive suffix '-ian' meaning 'of or relating to', so learners can infer the meaning.

Etymology

Illyrian comes from the old place name Illyria, the name for the people and region along the western Balkan coast long ago. So an Illyrian language is the old language once spoken by those people.