The Tosk dialect is a variety of the Albanian language spoken mainly in southern Albania and other areas with Albanian-speaking communities. The spelling "Tosk" reflects its pronunciation, which is transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /tɔsk/ (t as in top, o as in or, s as in sun, k as in kite). The dialect is distinct from the Gheg dialect, which is spoken in northern Albania and Kosovo. Both dialects are standardized in the Albanian language and used in literature and education.
Tosk dialect refers to a distinct linguistic variation or sub-dialect of the Albanian language. It is primarily spoken in the southern region of Albania, particularly within the Toskëria region, which encompasses cities such as Tirana, Vlorë, Gjirokastër, and Korçë.
The Tosk dialect is one of the two main dialects of the Albanian language, the other being the Gheg dialect. It is characterized by a number of phonetic, lexical, and morphological differences from the Gheg dialect. Tosk is known for its softer pronunciation and influences from Greek and other neighboring languages.
In terms of phonetics, some key features of the Tosk dialect include the pronunciation of the letter "ë" as "e" and "r" as a tapped "r" sound. Lexically, the Tosk dialect differs from Gheg through the usage of specific words and expressions. Morphologically, Tosk maintains a closer connection to Old Albanian, while Gheg exhibits more innovations.
The Tosk dialect is not mutually intelligible with Gheg, and speakers of one dialect may find difficulties in understanding the other, especially when it comes to colloquial or regional expressions. Nonetheless, standard Albanian, a standardized form of the language, is based on the Tosk dialect due to its historical prestige and wider literary tradition.
Overall, the Tosk dialect holds significant cultural and linguistic importance within the Albanian language, shaping the linguistic identity of numerous communities in southern Albania.
The word "Tosk" is derived from the Albanian term "toskë", which refers to the southern Albanian dialect spoken by the majority of Albanians in Albania, as well as in certain regions of Greece, North Macedonia, and Italy. The etymology of the term "toskë" is believed to originate from the Turkish word "toska", meaning "pebble". This term was used by Ottoman Turks to describe the rocky terrain of southern Albania. Consequently, the term "Tosk" came to represent the dialect spoken in that region.