Volume 15, issue 1

Introduction

This volume of in esse: English Studies in Albania collects papers from four different subject areas, grouped into three sections in this issue: Language Studies, Children’s Literature, Translation Studies, and English Language Teaching. This issue of in esse also includes a book review.

The first section, Language Studies, contains one contribution, “Linguistic contact phenomena in Albanian oral literature: Loanwords in Songs of the Frontier Warriors,” by Esmeralda Subashi and Adriatik Derjaj, University of Tirana. The article examines the influence of Turkish loanwords, or Turkisms, within the Albanian epic tradition, specifically in Songs of the Frontier Warriors. The authors highlight how these loanwords reflect historical, cultural, and socio-political interactions that have shaped the Albanian identity over centuries, particularly during the Ottoman Empire’s influence. By analysing the presence of Turkisms thematically—across military, domestic, and social spheres—the article underlines their significance in enriching the narratives of the epic and illustrating the complexities of identity, resistance, and cultural exchange. The authors emphasise the role of oral tradition in facilitating the integration and adaptation of these loanwords, illustrating the dynamic interplay between language and cultural identity within the Albanian epic tradition.

The second section, Children’s Literature, has one article written by Rudina Alimerko from the University of Vlora “Ismail Qemali.” The article explores the evolution of children’s literature in Albania throughout the twentieth century, highlighting its progression from traditional tales and fables to a diverse array of works that include novels and adventurous stories. It identifies two significant periods: the pre-war and the war periods in the first half of the twentieth century and the post-war period in the latter half. Notable authors such as Andon Zako Çajupi, Mitrush Kuteli, Petro Marko, and Odhise Grillo contributed to the evolution by translating classics, integrating Albanian folklore, and adapting European literary elements to create original works for young readers. The study emphasises the role of children’s literature in fostering cultural heritage, enhancing language skills, and introducing national and universal values. It advocates for the integration of aesthetic education to enrich children’s literary experiences, thereby promoting a brighter future through continued literary engagement.

Two articles, both focusing on aspects of translating Arthur Miller’s plays into Albanian, comprise the third section, Translation Studies. In the first article, Iris Klosi from the University of Tirana and Hysen Kasumi from AAB College discuss the issue of censorship in Miller’s Albanian translation of The Crucible, whereas in the second, Iris Klosi and Esmeralda Subashi from the University of Tirana look into the socialist realist influence on Miller’s Albanian translation of Death of a Salesman.

The first article in this section explores the impact of censorship on the Albanian translations of Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, specifically focusing on versions from 1973 and 2011. It posits that translation is a form of rewriting influenced by socio-political contexts, with censorship acting as a manipulative force altering the source text to conform to ideological expectations. The 1973 translation, made during Albania’s communist regime, left out or changed a lot of religious and obscene content to fit with government propaganda. The 2011 version, on the other end, is a more accurate reflection of Miller’s original text, although it is still affected by the historical context. The analysis reveals how both translations demonstrate the interplay between translation, culture, and power, highlighting the complexities of literary production under censorship.

In the second article, the authors discuss the translation of Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman into Albanian during the era of Socialist Realism, focusing on Piro Misha’s 1986 adaptation titled Vdekja e një Komisioneri. They analyse the translation strategies employed by Misha to align the play with the Communist regime’s anti-capitalist propaganda while still maintaining fidelity to Miller’s original work. The authors provide a detailed examination of various translation challenges, including the adaptation of titles, stage directions, idioms, and stylistic devices, assessing how these choices affected the play’s reception in Albania. They argue that while the performance was framed within the ideological constraints of the time, Misha’s translation preserved the core themes of individual despair and the critique of the American Dream, allowing for continued engagement with Miller’s work in the Albanian context. Ultimately, the study highlights the complex interplay between art, culture, and politics in translation.

 In the fourth section, English Language Teaching, Osman Osmani from the University of Prishtina and Rina Sefiu from UBT College contribute with an article that focuses on English for Specific Purposes (ESP). In this article, they discuss a pilot study conducted in Kosovo to explore the role of English for Specific Purposes in vocational upper secondary education. It highlights the necessity of integrating ESP into the curriculum to enhance learners’ specialised English language skills, which are crucial for their future careers. The study involved 23 11th graders divided into a control group, which received General English (GE) instruction, and an experimental group, which was taught ESP related to informatics and technology. The results indicated that the experimental group outperformed the control group significantly in all assessed areas, demonstrating that ESP improves learners’ competence in using English within their specific fields. The authors recommend the integration of ESP into vocational education to better prepare students for the global job market and to meet the communication demands of their professions.

The last section, Book Review, contains a review of the book Foreign Language Teaching in and for European Contexts, written by Ana Jovanović from the University of Belgrade. The review highlights the textbook’s comprehensive approach to language policy and planning within the European educational framework. Designed for advanced students and language educators, it consists of a textbook and a teaching resource pack, both addressing critical aspects of language education, including the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages and the significance of intercultural communicative competence. The book is divided into three parts, exploring theoretical foundations, practical implications, and contemporary perspectives on multilingualism. It emphasises the importance of critical language awareness and pedagogical approaches that encourage reflection and collaboration among language teachers. Ultimately, this publication serves as a valuable resource for both novice and experienced teachers, promoting European values in language teaching and fostering competencies essential for effective language instruction.

We express our gratitude to all the contributors for sharing their ideas and perspectives with us in this edition of in esse. We would especially like to thank our reviewers for their tremendously laborious selection and evaluation of the papers included in this collection.

                                                                                                                                                                                 Armela Panajoti, general editor

Linguistic contact phenomena in Albanian oral literature: Loanwords in Songs of the Frontier Warriors 

Esmeralda SUBASHI, Adriatik DERJAJ, University of Tirana, Albania

email: esmeraldasubashi@gmail.com

Abstract

Songs of the Frontier Warriors, known as the heroic epic of Albania, consists of historic rhapsodies and legendary stories primarily originating in Northern Albania, yet it has also spread over many regions of present-day Albania.  This article aims to explore phenomena of linguistic contacts by identifying, analysing, and interpreting the Turkisms present in Songs of the Frontier Warriors. This work is a significant wide poetic cycle within the Albanian legendary epic tradition and merits recognition not only as a valuable ethno-cultural artefact but also for its profound thematic significance. Central to its narrative is the enduring message of resistance in the pursuit of freedom, right, and dignity, alongside its notable literary and artistic values. Although Songs of the Frontier Warriors predates the Turkish conquest of Albania, a series of Ottoman elements are encountered in its songs, mainly in the domestic and heroic domains. This phenomenon can be attributed to the oral transmission of the epic, which, in contrast to similar works from other cultures—such as The Gilgamesh, The Ramayana, The Mahabharata, The Song of the Nibelungs, The Song of Roland—was not preserved in written form. Instead, it was transmitted orally through generations, from one bard to another, and across different regions and centuries. This oral tradition inevitably facilitated the integration of numerous Turkisms, which became integral to its narrative fabric. This article examines Turkish loanwords in Songs of the Frontier Warriors, highlighting their significant influence on the Albanian language since the Turkish conquest. We have employed qualitative data collection methods for this purpose, extracting examples from the 1937 edition of the epic and juxtaposing them with their existing English translation.

Keywords: linguistic contact, borrowings (loanwords), legendary/heroic epic, Turkisms, oral literature

Children’s literature in Albania: A twentieth-century trajectory into national and global values, trends, and perspectives

Rudina ALIMERKO, University of Vlora “Ismail Qemali”, Albania

email: rudina.alimerko@univlora.edu.al

Abstract

In this study, I investigate the evolution of children’s literature in Albania throughout the twentieth century as juxtaposed with world children’s literature trends. By delineating two significant periods: the pre-war, inter-war, and war periods in the first half of the century, and the post-war period in the latter half, the analysis reveals a progression from traditional tales and fables to a diverse range of works, including novels and adventurous stories, aiming to enhance language skills, literacy, and cultural appreciation among young readers. Notable authors such as Andon Zako Çajupi, Mitrush Kuteli, Petro Marko, and Odhise Grillo played pivotal roles by translating classics, incorporating Albanian folklore, and adapting European literary elements to create original and successful works for young audiences. The study highlights the commitment of Albanian children’s literature writers to fostering cultural heritage, nurturing young minds, and bridging national and universal values through storytelling. Emphasising the crucial role of children’s literature in shaping identity, imagination, and educational values, the article highlights the importance of early reading in promoting national values and cultural development. It advocates for the integration of aesthetic education to enrich children’s literary experiences, thus paving the way for a brighter and more enlightened future through continued literary engagement.

Keywords: universal values, national, cultural heritage, children’s literature

Translation as censorship: Rewriting Arthur Miller’s The Crucible in Albanian

Iris KLOSI, University of Tirana, Albania

Hysen KASUMI, AAB College, Kosovo

email: iriskokoli78@gmail.com; hysen.kasumi@universitetiaab.com (corresponding author)

Abstract

Contemporary theory understands translation as a form of rewriting, where the translator interprets the original text consciously or unconsciously. Censorship is a form of rewriting that deliberately blocks, manipulates, and controls the stream of information from the source to the target text. Under the communist regime, censorship of literary texts in Albania was strict and instituted through a single state-owned publishing house with the right to publish all genres of literary works. Arthur Miller was among those playwrights whose plays were translated and staged both before and after the fall of the regime. The paper investigates the modes of institutional and individual censorship by comparing Albanian translations of Arthur Miller’s The Crucible produced in different socio-political contexts. The analysis focuses on the omissions, expansions, additions, and other translation procedures employed to domesticate, simplify, manipulate, and rewrite parts of the play in conformity with the philosophical, cultural, educational, social, and political context of the time. In the 1973 translation, religious and obscene content was avoided through different translation procedures, with some paragraphs and passages being simplified, rewritten, or entirely omitted. In the unpublished 2011 translation, the stage director and the translator preserved the title of the 1973 version in conformity with the established image of the witches and the puritan village of Salem. The analysis reveals the different ways agents of power, victims of power, translators, and censors shaped censorship and self-censorship practices.

Keywords: translation theory, censorship, Arthur Miller, Albania, Socialist Realism

Translating Death of a Salesman during Socialist Realism in Albania

Iris KLOSI, Esmeralda SUBASHI, University of Tirana, Albania

email: iriskokoli78@gmail.com

Abstract

Arthur Miller’s play Death of a Salesman has been translated into many languages and adapted to different stages and cultures. This paper analyses the translation aspects of Piro Misha’s 1986 Albanian version under the title Vdekja e një Komisioneri. The paper provides insights into the translation procedures used by Misha to align with the Communist regime propaganda against capitalism, secure acceptance from editors and the state publishing house, and maintain the flow and appeal for the audience. The study provides various examples from Source Text and Target Text by drawing comparisons and offering critical translation analysis on different translation problems ranging from the translation of the title to the translation of more complicated grammar structures, idioms, expressions, culture-bound words, symbols, images, stage directions, etc. While the tragic myth, past illusions, and distorted reality of Willy Loman are clear and identifiable in the play, the translator has managed to give the translation an Albanian flair by presenting Willy as the simple man, the man of the masses who suffered the consequences of harsh and cruel capitalism in the USA. When examined, the tone, style, and lexical and cultural elements are skilfully adjusted and sometimes even altered to align with the expectations of a Socialist Realist readership and audience.

Furthermore, this study explores the dual impact of Socialist Realism on the reception and translation of Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman in Albania. While the play’s portrayal in contemporary newspapers was heavily influenced by the ideological demands of the time, framing it within an anti-capitalist narrative, Piro Misha’s translation remained true to Miller’s original work. This paradox highlights how propaganda, while shaping public perception, simultaneously enabled the uncensored dissemination and performance of a significant American play, preserving its core message for future audiences. 

Keywords: cultural flair, domestication, translation criticism, translation equivalents

The Role of ESP in vocational upper secondary education: A pilot study

Osman OSMANI, University of Prishtina, Kosovo

Rina SEFIU, UBT College, Kosovo

email: osman.osmani@uni-pr.edu

Abstract

English for Specific Purposes (ESP) is essential for academic, professional, and vocational pursuits since it facilitates access to global opportunities. It has nowadays drawn the attention of schools and educational institutions. However, although many countries have adopted it in their curricula, there are still others that have not done so yet. Kosovo is one such case when it comes to vocational pre-university education. Therefore, we chose this country to conduct a study. This empirical study shows both the benefits of using ESP for vocational learners and the disadvantages of not using it. Piloting served as an instrument for obtaining the results. It lasted for a four-month period and was conducted with 23 11th graders who were divided into two groups: a control group and an experimental group. After collecting and analysing the data, it was found that experimental group learners showed far better results in each section they were assessed, i.e., in writing, speaking, listening, and vocabulary, by an average of 37.17% compared to the control group, who achieved only 8% progress. As such, we recommend that ESP be considered a must and given the attention it requires.   

Keywords: control group, ESP, experimental group, GE, learners, piloting, vocational education

Armela Panajoti, Jelena Filipović, Bledar Toska. 2023. Foreign Language Teaching in and for European Contexts. University of Vlora “Ismail Qemali”, Albania. Coursebook (199 pp.) with A Teaching Resource Pack (78 pp)

Ana JOVANOVIĆ, University of Belgrade

email: anajovano@gmail.com

Abstract 

Foreign Language Teaching in and for European Contexts provides a comprehensive approach to language policy and planning within the European educational framework. Designed for advanced students and language educators, it explores theoretical foundations, practical implications, and contemporary perspectives on multilingualism, emphasizing critical language awareness and pedagogical approaches. It comes as a textbook accompanied by a teaching resource pack.