Mario Roques, founder of the philology of old Albanian texts

Abstract

The article aims to highlight the contributions of the French philologist, Mario Roques, to the philology of ancient Albanian texts. After outlining Roques' academic background, the article delves into the motivations behind his interest in ancient Albanian texts, his conceptual approach to Albanian philology, and the methodologies he employed to publish these texts. Additionally, it emphasizes his specific contributions, such as his publication of Frang Bardhi’s Latin-Albanian Dictionary. This publication included an introductory study enriched with data from Roques’ personal archival research. He also conducted systematic research on ancient Albanian 78 Anila Omari texts, which was published in the volume “Recherches sur les anciens textes albanais” (Paris, 1932). This work provides a comprehensive list of ancient Albanian texts from the 15th century to the early 18th century, detailing the physical description and content of all documents included, along with valuable personal commentary on the texts and their authors. The article further explores Roques’ discoveries concerning the first Albanian book, the ‘Missal’ by Gjon Buzuku. It highlights his significant findings regarding numerous previously unknown aspects of this work and its author, including the location of the work’s publication, the origins of the special characters in the Buzuku alphabet, the reasons for composing the liturgical work in the vernacular, the location of Buzuku’s church service, and various influences evident in his work, among other aspects. If we trace the beginnings of Albanian philology to 1743, marked by Gjon Kazazi’s discovery of Buzuku’s ‘Missal’ and his reproduction of excerpts in a letter to Father Giorgio Guzzetta, then Mario Roques’ systematic research on old Albanian texts, his discoveries of significant monuments in old Albanian literature, his publication of the Blanchus Dictionary, and his application of Western philological concepts can rightfully be considered the foundation of modern Albanian philology. Through his relentless pursuit to gather, describe, and study ancient Albanian texts, Roques provided invaluable resources to subsequent researchers of the Albanian language and history. His work laid a crucial philological foundation necessary for accurate linguistic and historical studies.