The Historical Evolution of Albanian Writing and Efforts to Standardize the Alphabet Within Religious and Cultural Influences

Abstract

This article  examines in detail the continuous efforts to establish a written form of the Albanian language up to the Congress of Manastir (1908), situating this process within its historical, cultural, and political context. Central to the discussion are the earliest written records of Albanian dating back to the fifteenth century, as well as the parallel use of several different alphabets, including the Latin, Greek, and Arabic scripts, which reflected religious divisions and foreign influences on the Albanian population. The article analyzes the contributions of clergy, scholars, and Albanian National Awakening figures to the efforts to create an alphabet suited to the phonetic structure of the Albanian language, as well as the role of cultural societies, printing houses, and Albanian-language schools in promoting literacy in the mother tongue. Particular attention is given to the numerous political and administrative obstacles imposed by the Ottoman Empire, which delayed the process of linguistic unification. The Congress of Manastir is presented as the culmination of these long-standing efforts, where a national consensus on the Albanian alphabet was achieved, laying a solid foundation for the development of education, literature, and Albanian national consciousness. The study aims to highlight the historical and cultural significance of this process in shaping Albanian national identity.

Received: 20 February 2026  │  Accepted: 10 June 2026  │  Published: 23 July 2026