DODONA, nr. 1, 2014, pp.

40-43

HITITE LANGUAGE IS A DIALECT OF PELASGIAN/ALBANIAN LANGUAGE

Luftulla PEZA and Liljana PEZA

Anatolian is a very ancient and known territory, which is mentioned in the history for many ancient
civilizations that have indicated much in the European one, as well. Trojan War (about the year 1200 B.C.),
Iliad and Odyssey of Homer, as first European works and of Albanian Literature, are the most important
ones.

Hittites is a people of Asia Minor that flourished from during II-d millennium B.C., who founded the
big Anatolian Empire that extended in the greatest part of Anatolia, in the Northern part of Mesopotamia and
in a part of Levant, as well.

Some dialects of ancient Pelasgian language are spoken in Anatolia, which are included in the
branch of Anatolian languages of the Pelasgian family. The main of these dialects are: Hittite, Palaic,
Luwian, Lydian, Lycian and Carian that are spoken and written during the Bronze time and after. During the
Iron time, in the Eastern regions of Anatolia, the Ionian dialect develops a dialect of Pelasgian language, by
means of which Iliad and Odyssey were written from the popular legends (Peza & Peza 2012, 2013).
Based upon the language that Hittites have spoken, a dialect of Pelasgian-Albanian language, we
think that the centre where this people lived and were civilized has been Balkan, and their ancient dwelling
place, which stretched further on up to Ukraine. During Neolithic period, a branch was detached from the
Pelasgian family tree and was spread around the Black Sea and Caspian Sea, others via Thrace and Aegean
isles were stretched in Anatolia, as well. But another part of this talented and brave people continued their
travel towards south, reaching the valley of the rivers Tigris and Euphrates in Mesopotamia. In this region
with mild climate and fertile lands was built Sumerian and Acadian, Babylon and Assyrian Empires during
the Bronze time. Therefore the ancient Sumerian language constitutes a dialect of Pelasgian language and
has much similarity with today’s Albanian language (A.Shuke 2009, 2011). Later on these regions , during
third century B.C. became part of the Empire of Alexander the Great, the great Albanian, who” with “25
thousand Albanians conquered” Persian Empire” that much jeopardized Europe and occupied all the known
world of that time. Hittites have used the carriage and they have been the first in History to use the iron and
this new invention gave to them a great power. Circa 1100 B.C. Hittite Empire began to weaken as a result of
long struggles with Egypt in South and with Phrygian in North.

THE ORIGINE OF EUROPEANS AND INDO-EUROPEAN LANGUAGES.

The origin of Europeans and of the family of indo-European languages is a problem that has been
discussed for a long time in the scientific circles. There are some theories about this origin: 1-“Kurgan”
theory of coming from Pontic Steppes (Gimbutas 1973), 2-The theory of coming from Anatolia (Renfrew
2000), 3- The theory of Palaeolithic continuity (Alinei 2003), 4-The theory of Pelasgian origin of Europeans
and their languages (Peza & Peza 2012, 2013).There is some truth in the second and the third theories, but
they cannot reach to give the necessary explanation to the problem.

The theory of Anatolia connects the spread of Indo-European language with the spread of agriculture
from Anatolia to Europe during 7-th millennium B.C. But, in Vashtëmi (Korça), during the last years is
found the oldest European Farm, created along the border of Mesolithic-Neolithic , circa the year 7500 B.C.,
which shows that Agriculture may be born in Europe and Asia at the same time, because it has been the same
people that has spoken the same language. On the other hand the words “Farma” and “Ara”, which are
connected with agriculture, come from Pelasgian / Albanian language: Fara = seed and Ara = arable land.

Anatolian theory is supported by two scientists from New Zealand (Gray & Atkinson 2003, 2011), as
well. In the base of their study these authors place the Hittite language as the oldest among the languages of
the Indo-European Family, where starts the ramification of the other languages circa 8700 B.C. It is thought
that from the Hittite language circa the year 7900 B.C. branches into Tocharian languages, languages
1
disappeared in Pakistan-China region and branches of other languages. Albanian language, as a special sub
branch, branches circa the year 6900 B.C. and they think that its age dates circa the year 600 B.C.

Hittite Language

Hittites have been a people with a great culture. They have left their written language in baked clay
plates, preserved in royal palaces in Hattusa, the Capital of Hittites. Hittites have written their language with
the cuneiform system of writing in the same way as summers. In order to solve the problem of deciphering of
Hittite writing , Bedřich Hrozný (1879-1952)., a Czech Scientist, has worked for a long time and he did the
deciphering of clay plates in 1917 and came to the conclusion that Hittite Language belong to the Indo-
European family of languages. Hrozny reached to decipher the meaning of the signs of cuneiform writing of
Hittite language and equalized them with the letters of Latin alphabet. In spite of the great work he did for
the deciphering of writings in Hittite language, Hrozny did not find the meaning of the words, that he
reached to decipher from Hittite language.

WHAT’S THE LANGUAGE THE HITTITES HAVE SPOKEN?

Hittite Language is part of Anatolian languages. Today is thought that the Anatolian languages
derive from the Proto-Anatolian Language .In this branch are included the languages: Hittite, Palaic, Luwian,
Lydian, Lycian, Carian, Sidetic and Posidiane. Opinions are provided that Hittite language is a language
belonging to Indo- European Family of languages, but is considered as dead one in the same way as the other
Anatolian languages and have no connection with any of today’s languages.

Last years we have dealt with the study of Hittite language and other Anatolian languages,
considering them in the aspect of the languages of special importance. We have discovered that Hittite
language, Luwian, Lydian, Lycian etc. have a big closeness with Albanian language. According to our
opinion the Hittite Language is part of Proto- Indo- European language or Pelasgian pre-Greek substratum.

Different authors have deciphered words of the Hittite Language from cuneiform writing and
transcript them in Latin, without knowing their meaning and have translated them in English with other
words, without their right meaning. So for example the name “ANDA” is translated “between” and to give a
clear picture of the case we are giving examples of some words below:
The word “Apa” is translated as “after, back, again” = pas, prapa, përsëri,
The word “Ara” is translated as “good” = mirë,
The word “Asma “is translated as “first, at first “= në fillim,
The word “Hana “is translated as “grandmother “ = gjyshe etc.
Below we are giving some words of the Hittite–Albanian Dictionary collected from different sources:
HITTITES ALBANIAN ENGLISH
Anda Anda Pleasure, fancy
Ap Ap, hap To open
Ara Ara, toka e lëruar Arable land
Arra Arra Walnut
Ark ark, hark Bow
Arma Arma Weapon
As, Asta Asht Is
At, atta At, ati, baba Father
Dusk Dushk, lis, qarr Oak
Epp Ep, jep (he) gives
Esha Isha Was
Ezen E zënë busy
Gurta Guri Stone
Hanna Hana, hëna The moon
Hap, Hapa Hap, (Unë) hapa Open
Happaraizzi (hapa ra i zi) Hapa ra nji zi When I opened it we saw
(kur e)hapa kishte rënë zi mourning
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Ila Ylli Star
Iss është is
Ishiul Ishull Island
Ka Ka (he) has, ox
Kan Kanë (they) have
Ki Ky ose ki This
Kush Kush Who
Lissi Lisi Oak
Man Mani Mulberry
Manniti Mahniti to amaze
Mark Mark, emër Mark, name
Mas Mas, mbas After, behind
Mat Mat, mas to measure
Maz Maz, mëz Colt, filly
Mes Mes Middle
Muri Mur, -i Wall
Nana Nana, nëna Mother
Natta, Netta Nata, netë Night
Pata Pata Goose
Peruna Piruni Fork
Pi Pi, pij Drink
Pul Pul, Pula Chicken
Si Si How
Sisa Sisa, cica Udder, dug
Shalli Shalli Scarf
Sarlata Sallata Salad
Shiu Shiu Rain
Taks Taksa Tax
Tati Tata, babai Father
Tavana Tavani Ceiling
Tesha Tesha, rroba Cloths
Turp Turp Shame
Uda Udha Road, way, rout
Uija Uji water
Uitti (uiti) Ujiti to water
Uk Uk, ujk Wolf
Ukila Ulkonja She-wolf
Unna Unë I
Ur Ura Bridge
Vala Vala Wave
Valla Valle Dance
Vappija, wappu Vapa Heat
Warra Gropa,vrima, plagë Hole
warri varri Grave, tomb
Many words of Hittite language that have the same meaning in the Albanian Language open new
horizons for the scholars of linguistics and history. This shows that Hittite language does not belong among
the dead ones; it has its continuation in today’s Albanian Language, as well as the Pelasgian one, from which
they both derive. So, the Hittite language is arranged in the branch of Pelasgian/Albanian, in the Pelasgian
Family of languages. These ancient words must enter the today’s Albanian dictionary, because they are
Pelasgian/Albanian words, written since the ancient times. Other Anatolian languages, are Luwian, Lydian,
Lycian, Carian etc. that contain, as well, in quantity, words of Pelasgian/Albanian language, therefore we
have included them in the Family of Pelasgian languages, in the branch of Pelasgian/Albanian language.

ALBANIAN LANGUAGE
3
 ↑
→ TOCHARIAN BRANCH

S G I A P E L A
→ SLAVIC BRANCH

→ BALTIC BRANCH
↑
PROTOALBANIAN (PELASGIAN) LANGUAGE

CONCLUSIONS

1-The Hittite language as the oldest tested IE language, is proved to be very similar to Pelasgian /Albanian
language. The Hittite language together with the other Anatolian languages are part of the Pelasgian Branch
of languages, where they have had the place of dialects. Therefore the Pelasgian language, with the oldest
written document during the 6-th millennium B.C. in the culture Vinca-Turdas-Dispilio together with its
dialects, constitutes the oldest language the other languages have their origin from the so called Indo-
European Family.
2-The presence of Albanian language words in Hittite language shows that they have the same origin
(parents) from which they have come. Since the Albanian language is proved that it derives from Pelasgian
language, so Hittite language, as well, derives from it. This shows that Hittite language is a living one that
continues into Albanian language.
3- The presence of Albanian words in Hittite language is of great importance for both languages. It is
important for Albanian language, because it shows its antiquity and the words of Hittite language constitute a
big treasure for Albanian language. This shows that deciphering of Hittite language can be done by means of
Albanian language, which in this case is the key language.
4- The scholars that have deciphered the system of Hittite cuneiform writing with letters of Latin alphabet
have not found the true meaning of the deciphered words and the given meaning in English language do not
match with the true meaning of the words. It comes that they have not known the Hittite language or the
language close to it, the Albanian language.
5- Some words of Hittite language speak about the people’s way of living that have spoken this language as
for example the word “piruna” (fork) shows that in Hittite families was used “piruna”, the word “sallata”
(salad) shows that Hittites have eaten salads with vegetables, the use of the word “tax”, shows that in the
Hittite society were paid taxes, or the word “ceiling” shows that Hittite houses, at least those in power, had
ceilings etc.
6- Some of the deciphered words of Hittite language constitutes the proper names of people, which are used
even today among Albanians and other people as: Ana, Anita, Gima (Agim), Hana, Hasan, Ila (Ylli or
Yllka), Irma, Is (Isa), Mark, Miti, Naki (Neki), Pask (Pashk), Salli (Sali), Sami, Sani, Sanie, Sara, Uk, Zina
etc.
7- Hittite language and the other Anatolian languages as: Luwian, Lydian, Lycian, Carian, Jonian, etc. must
be done a thorough object of study from linguistically and historic point of view by the Albanian study
centres.