View source for Nartë

{{Infobox settlement AL
|type               = v
|official_name      = Nartë
|other name         = Άρτα
|other_name         =
|image_flag         =
|image_shield       =
|image_skyline      = Narta.jpg
|image_caption      = Trilingual sign in Nartë
|image_location     =
|county             = Vlorë
|municipality       = [[Vlorë]]
|municunit          = [[Qendër Vlorë]]
|leader_name        =
|leader_party       =
|coordinates        = {{coord|40|29|57|N|19|27|26|E|type:adm1st_region:AL_dim:100000|display=inline,title}}
|elevation          =
|elevation_min      =
|elevation_max      =
|area_total         =
|population_as_of   =
|population_total   =
|postal_code        =
|area_code          =
|car_plates         =
|website            =
}}
'''Nartë''' ({{lang-sq-definite|Narta}}; {{langx|el|Νάρτα}}, also Άρτα, ''Arta'' or Παλαιοάρτα, ''Palioarta'')<ref>{{cite book|last1=Nicholas Geoffrey Lemprière|first1=Hammond|title=Epirus: the Geography, the Ancient Remains, the History and Topography of Epirus and Adjacent Areas|date=1967|publisher=Clarendon P.|page=131|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kEFoAAAAMAAJ&q=narte|quote=[...] Greek speaking village of Arta or Palioarta, as it is called locally (incorrectly Narte on the staff map)}}</ref> is a community in [[Vlorë County]]. At the 2015 local government reform it became part of the municipality [[Vlorë]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.vendime.al/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/137-2014.pdf |title=Law nr. 115/2014 |language=sq |pages=6376|access-date=25 February 2022 }}</ref> It is situated northwest of the city of [[Vlorë]]. It is predominantly inhabited by [[Greeks in Albania|ethnic Greeks]] who speak a unique [[Varieties of Modern Greek|northern Greek dialect]], as well as [[Albanian language|Albanian]].
==Etymology==
There is no convincing origin for the name of the settlement.<ref>Kyriazis, 2012, p. 896</ref> Doris Kyriazis argues that the toponym ''Narta'' derives from Slavic and means 'summit', 'cape'.<ref>Kyriazis, 2018, p. 161</ref> Synonymous toponyms are also found in various locations in the Slavic world.<ref>Kyriazis, 2012, p. 896</ref> According to this view, from Slavic it would have been transmitted into Greek Άρτα and Albanian Nartë.<ref>Kyriazis, 2018, p. 162</ref> Kyriazis also states that the prefix n- comes possibly from the Greek language through the evolution 'tin Arta' -> 'ti Narta' -> 'Narta' and was used as a loan in the Albanian language.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Kyriazis |first1=Doris |title=Greek Influence on the Albanian Language |journal=Didaktorika.gr |date=2001 |page=145, 177 |url=https://www.didaktorika.gr/eadd/handle/10442/22897?locale=en |access-date=29 November 2022 |publisher=Aristotle University of Thessaloniki |language=el|quote= πριν από φωνήεν: Άρτα ['aita] > N'artë. Πιθανότατα εδώ η ανάπτυξη έγινε στην ελληνική και οφείλεται στη συμπροφορά: την Άρτα > τηνΆρτα > τη Νάρτα > Νάρτα, Το τοπωνύμιο Nartë, χωριό κοντά στην Αυλώνα, από συνεκφορά την Αρτά > την Νάρτα > τη Νάρτα > N'artë}}</ref> Alternatively [[Shaban Demiraj]] argues that the name ''Nartë'' is from through the Albanian preposition ''në'' meaning "in" or "to", and ''Arta''.
==Demographics==
The local population are predominantly members of the [[Greeks in Albania|ethnic Greek minority in Albania]], just like the inhabitants of neighboring [[Zvërnec]], and both use a distinct northern idiom of [[modern Greek language|modern Greek]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://periodikodrys.gr/%CF%87%CE%B5%CE%B9%CE%BC%CE%AC%CF%81%CE%B1-%CE%B3%CE%BB%CF%89%CF%83%CF%83%CE%B9%CE%BA%CF%8C-%CE%B9%CE%B4%CE%AF%CF%89%CE%BC%CE%B1-%CF%87%CE%B9%CE%BC%CE%AC%CF%81%CE%B1%CF%82/#_ftn29|title=Η σχέση του Ελληνικού γλωσσικού ιδιώματος της Χειμάρρας με τα άλλα νεοελληνικά ιδιώματα|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160507224409/http://periodikodrys.gr/%CF%87%CE%B5%CE%B9%CE%BC%CE%AC%CF%81%CE%B1-%CE%B3%CE%BB%CF%89%CF%83%CF%83%CE%B9%CE%BA%CF%8C-%CE%B9%CE%B4%CE%AF%CF%89%CE%BC%CE%B1-%CF%87%CE%B9%CE%BC%CE%AC%CF%81%CE%B1%CF%82/#_ftn29|archive-date=2016-05-07|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.icgl.gr/files/greek/85-890-898.pdf|title=ΤΟ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΟ ΓΛΩΣΣΙΚΟ ΙΔΙΩΜΑ ΤΗΣ ΑΡΤΑΣ ΑΥΛΩΝΑ Αριστοτέλειο Πανεπιστήμιο Θεσ/νίκης|last=Κυριακής|first=Δώρης Κ.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180821191920/http://www.icgl.gr/files/greek/85-890-898.pdf|archive-date=2018-08-21|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>Doris, 2012, p. </ref><ref>[http://thesis.ekt.gr/thesisBookReader/id/8349#page/1/mode/2up Πιτούλη – Κίτσου Χριστίνα, Οι Ελληνοαλβανικές Σχέσεις και το Βορειοηπειρωτικό Ζήτημα κατά τη Περίοδο 1907 – 1914, Athens 1997, page 120.]</ref> They also speak [[Albanian language|Albanian]].<ref>{{harvnb|Demiraj|2010|p=566}}: "Midis vendbanimeve të Gjirit të Vlorës, që si gjuhë amtare prej shekujsh kanë pasur shqipen, veçohet fshati i Nartës, ku banorët flasin greqisht (dhe shqip)."</ref> Due to emigration to Greece, the population of the village as of 2023 is estimated to be no more than 250; one-tenth of its population three decades ago.<ref name="BIRN">https://balkaninsight.com/2023/04/20/deserted-albanian-village-tries-to-keep-ancient-carnival-alive/ {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}}</ref>
==Dialect==
Narte is the northernmost area of Greek speech among the Greek speaking regions in Albania, while in the local dialect northern vocalism prevails.<ref name=Spyrou409>{{cite journal |last1=Spyrou |first1=Aristotle |title=Modern Greek Dialects of Albania {{!}} Vestnik of St.Petersburg State University. Series 9. PHILOLOGY. ASIAN STUDIES. JOURNALISM |journal=MFK.spbu.ru |date=2014 |pages=410 |url=http://mfk.spbu.ru/en/tags/modern-greek-dialects-albania |access-date=14 August 2022|quote=[...] in the northernmost point of the hellenophony, the dialect of Narta, the northern vocalism prevails.}}</ref> Due it its geographic isolation it preserves archaic features. Under this context it has partial isoglosses with Greek speech in [[Magna Graecia]], the Ionian islands, Epirus but also with more distant Greek-speaking centres: [[Cyprus]], [[Thrace]] and [[Asia Minor]].<ref>Kyriazis, 2012, p. 898-897</ref> Due to the isolation of the People's Republic of Albania (1945-1991) the local Greek dialect was not affected by modern standard Greek. Nevertheless after the restoration of democracy in Albania (1991) standard Greek became popular especially among the younger generations.<ref>Kyriazis, 2012, p. 891-892</ref>
According to Doris Kyriazis, the uninterrupted presence of the local Greek dialect is also attested by the loans it provided to the adjacent Albanian dialects.<ref name=Kyriazis>Kyriazis, 2012, p. 897: "Η διαχρονική του παρουσία επιβεβαιώνεται κι από τις λέξεις που δάνεισε στα γειτονικά ιδιώματα της αλβανικής. Αν θεωρήσουμε ότι στο γεωγραφικό αυτό σημείο η ελληνική διαθέτει βάθος χρόνου που αγγίζει την αρχαιότητα, θα πρέπει να ερευνήσουμε και να ερμηνεύσουμε πώς και πότε η συγκεκριμένη εστία ελληνοφωνίας απέκτησε χαρακτηριστικά βόρειου φωνηεντισμού. Οφείλεται αυτό σε μια μεταγενέστερη, κατά τα χρόνια πιθανόν της πρώιμης Τουρκοκρατίας, μαζική εγκατάσταση πληθυσμού που μιλούσε βόρειο ιδίωμα8; Ή μήπως ήταν η ίδια η εσωτερική δυναμική του ιδιώματος που οδήγησε σε αυτή την εξέλιξη9; Σημειώνουμε ότι οι ενδυμασίες των γυναικών της ΆΑ και η συνήθειά τους να κουβαλάνε αντικείμενα τοποθετώντας τα πάνω στο κεφάλι, προσιδιάζουν με αυτά της νησιωτικής Ελλάδας (Επτάνησα) και της Κάτω Ιταλίας. Η σύνθετη προβληματική που αναδύεται δεν μπορεί να αντιμετωπιστεί παρά μόνο με μια διεπιστημονική προσέγγιση."</ref>
==History==
During classical antiquity the coastal area of the [[Bay of Vlorë]], where the present-day villages of Nartë and [[Zvërnec]] are located, was settled by [[Ancient Greeks]]. Since at present those two villages constitute the northernmost pockets of [[Modern Greek]] speech, scholar Hatzopoulos (1997) wonders if it is a coincidence or they are isolated relics of the ancient ''Balaiitai'' and ''Horikioi''.<ref>{{harvnb|Hatzopoulos|Sakellariou|Loukopoulou|1997|pp=[https://books.google.com/books?id=UV1oAAAAMAAJ&q=%22 144-145]|ps=: "The above review suggests that the northern boundaries of Hellenism in Epirus during Classical Antiquity lay in the valley of the Aoos . Is it purely chance that at the present day, the northernmost Greek - speaking villages are Arta and Svernitsa in the Gulf of Aulon -isolated relics of the ancient Horikioi and Balaiitai?"}}</ref><ref name="Demiraj2010–573">{{harvnb|Demiraj|2010|p=573}}</ref> The view of an uninterrupted Greek presence from antiquity is rejected by Sh. Demiraj (2010), on the grounds that it is not backed up by linguistic evidence or historic documentation, instead arguing that their ancestors consist of relatively late incoming emigrants from the Greek speaking areas of [[Arta, Greece|Arta]]. Demiraj points to anthroponymic data gathered from 16th century [[Defter|Ottoman tax registers]], specifically those of the years 1520 and 1583, in which the defters of the village of Narta display south Albanian Orthodox anthroponomy. Moreover, the names attested lack the Greek suffix ''"s"'', and contain consonants unusual to modern Greek, such as ''/b'' (''Bogdan, Tërbari''). Since the population of the village partly consists of immigrants from neighboring Albanian villages, indicated by surnames like ''Bulku'' or ''Palasa'', the issue regarding the use of the Greek language remains open.<ref name="Demiraj2010–573" /> Kyriazis (2012) argues that those 16th century Ottoman registers provide proofs of the continuity and the differentiation of the synthesis of the population.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Kyriazis|first1=Doris|title=Slavic elements in the Greek idioms of South Albania|journal=Philologica Jassyensia|date=2012|volume=15|issue=VII/I|pages=162|url=http://www.diacronia.ro/ro/indexing/details/A1051/pdf|access-date=12 September 2017|quote=owever,  there  are  a  lot  of  –  mainly women’s – names  recorded  only  in  AA  that  can  help  us  in  following  the  course  and  the demographic  synthesis  of  this  settlement.  In  the  ledger  of  1520,  names  of  Slavic origin  are  found  as  well  as  the  diminutive  suffix  –ko,  whereas  in  the  one  of  1583 there is at least one case in which we learn that Vaso Lito is from Maura (island of Lefkada −  Λευκάδα).  The  examples  above  are  proofs  of  the  continuity  and  the differentiation of the synthesis of the AA population.}}</ref> He also states that if we consider that the local Greek speech has a depth of time that reaches antiquity, then we should investigate and interpret how and when it acquired characteristics of northern vocalism.<ref name=Kyriazis/>
The settlement is mentioned at the first time as ''Narda'' in an Ottoman traveller's log of 1520.<ref>Doris, 2012, p. 896</ref>
In 1873 a Greek school was founded in the village. Greek education was expanded with the opening of a girls' school and a kindergarten in the early 1900s.<ref>{{cite web|last=Koltsida|first=Athina|script-title=el:Η Εκπαίδευση στη Βόρειο Ήπειρο κατά την Ύστερη Περίοδο της Οθωμανικής Αυτοκρατορίας [Education in Northern Epirus during the Latter Ottoman Period] |url=http://invenio.lib.auth.gr/record/104814?ln=el|publisher=[[Aristotle University of Thessaloniki]]|access-date=16 December 2012|year=2008 |language=el|format=pdf|pages=249–250}}</ref>
With the incorporation of the area to the Albanian state (1912) the Greek school was closed down. During the People's Republic of Albania (1945-1991) public use of the Greek language was prohibited as well as any mention of the Greek origin of the locals.<ref>Kyriazis, 2012, p. 891</ref>
==Geography==
The surrounding region has many salt marshes. [[Narta Lagoon]], which hosts a unique ecosystem, lies north of the village.<ref>{{cite book | author=Council of Europe, Albania. Ministry of Health and Environment | title=Protection of coastal areas of the Adriatic Sea: proceedings : colloquy organised within the framework of European Nature Conservation Year 1995 in co-operation with the Ministry of Health and Environment of Albania | publisher=Council of Europe |year=1995|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DMkEEnCwi18C| isbn=978-92-871-2851-5}}</ref> The salt marches of Narta constitute a rare and characteristic habitat type and is a unique feature in Albania.<ref>Papayannis, 2008, p. 89</ref>
==Attractions==
One of the local tourist attractions is the annual three-day festival.<ref>{{cite book | author=Gloyer Gillian | title=The Bradt Travel Guide Albania | publisher=Bradt Travel Guides | page = 211 |year=2008 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=K_trOWbGcbkC| isbn=978-1-84162-246-0}}</ref> It was revived on 11-13 April 2004, after a lapse of several years.<ref>Papayannis, 2008, p. 107</ref> It takes place in the second week of April were Carnival celebration occur. The festivities also include concerts, an ethno-gastronomic fair, sports and public awareness events.<ref>Papayannis, 2008, p. 107, 206</ref>
An Orthodox church lies on the centre of the village.<ref name=Thalassia>{{cite journal|author1=Genuario Belmonte |author2=Salvatore Moscatello |author3=Anna Maria Miglietta |author4=Bilal Shkurtaj |title=Ecotourism in Albania: the proposal of naturalistic routes in the Vlora region|journal=Thalassia Salentina|year=2008|volume=31|issue=1|doi=10.1285/i15910725v31p13}}</ref>
==Bibliography==
*{{cite book |last=Demiraj |first=Shaban |author-link=Shaban Demiraj |editor-last=Demiraj |editor-first=Bardhyl |editor-link=Bardhyl Demiraj |chapter=Narta |title=Wir sind die Deinen: Studien zur albanischen Sprache, Literatur und Kulturgeschichte, dem Gedenken an Martin Camaj (1925-1992) gewidmet |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bmIVOGu0WWEC&pg=PA566 |language=sq |publisher=[[Harrassowitz Verlag]] |date=2010 |isbn=978-3-447-06221-3}}
*{{cite journal |last1=Kyriazis |first1=Doris |title=The Greek Idiom of Arta (Vlore) |journal=10ο Διεθνές Συνέδριο Ελληνικής Γλωσσολογίας |date=2012 |page=891 |url=http://ikee.lib.auth.gr/record/312244?ln=el |access-date=16 September 2022}}
*{{cite journal |last1=Kyriazis |first1=Doris K. |title=Language contact and onomastics: tautological constructs, folk etymologies and some methodological issues |journal=Romanoslavica |date=2018 |volume=LIV |issue=3 |pages=161–170 |url=https://www.ceeol.com/search/article-detail?id=912795 |access-date=16 September 2022 |language=English |issn=2537-4214}}
*{{cite book |last1=Papayannis |first1=Thymio |title=Action for culture in Mediterranean wetlands |date=2008 |publisher=Med-INA |location=Athens |isbn=978-960-89972-0-2 |url=https://medwet.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Action_for_Culture_in_Med_Wetlands_Eng.pdf |access-date=20 September 2022}}
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Vlorë div}}
{{Northern Epirus}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Narte}}
[[Category:Populated places in Vlorë]]
[[Category:Greek communities in Albania]]
[[Category:Villages in Vlorë County]]