THE VIEWS OF SCHOLAR MAXIMILIAN LAMBERTZ ON LANGUAGE, FOLKLORE AND LITERATURE

Abstract

The aim of this work is to present the scientific contribution of the Austrian-German researcher Maximilian Lambertz to the field of Albanology and its culture in general. His scholarly perspectives are broad and multifaceted, highlighting the Albanian language and oral literature as crucial subjects of study, particularly in relation to Balkan cultures and the role of the Albanian language within the larger Indo-European language group. In addition to his studies of the languages and cultures of Europe, Lambertz's research included the study of Albanian culture, language, literature and religious beliefs, which had been relatively unknown to scholars. His sensitive treatment of such creations made them important not only for the field of Albanology but also for broader scientific contexts. Therefore, our paper analyses Lambertz's monographs and other writings dealing specifically with linguistic and literary issues, starting with his well-known monograph "Midis Drinit dhe Vjosë" (Between the Drin and Vjosa) and another equally important study,"Posta e Shypnisë" (The Post of Albania). These works represent the foundations of the cultural internationalization of Albanian language and literature, as many of his articles were published in the prestigious German-language journals of the time. Against this background, it is no coincidence that Lambertz's studies, although his first contact with the Albanian language and oral literature was accidental, are still relevant today among young researchers. This is because no one else, like him, has clarified and scientifically established the meaning of these literary works, making them significant not only within Albanian-speaking cultural circles but also beyond.