Abstract
The Balkan languages were the first referent of the term ‘sprachbund’ (‘linguistic league,’ ‘convergence area,’ linguistic area'), a concept defined to classify languages according to systemic similarities resulting from language contact (convergence, diffusion), as opposed to the linguistic family, in which resemblances can be traced to a common ancestor. This article surveys the history of the field of Balkan linguistics and the principal features taken as exemplary of the Balkan sprachbund in Albanian, Greek, Balkan Slavic (Bulgarian, Macedonian, and the southeastern dialects of Serbian), Balkan Romance (Romanian, Aromanian, Megleno-Romanian), Balkan Romani, and Balkan Turkish. Also mentioned are Dalmatian, Gagauz, Istro-Romanian, Judeo-Greek, and Judezmo.
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