Zojz

Albanian

Etymology

Uncertain. Suddenly appearing in the literature in the 1950's without any source and said to be inherited from Proto-Indo-European *dyḗws.^[1]^[2]^[3] Despite its popularity, this etymology is unlikely and poses significant problems. A PIE *-ḗu̯- leads to PPA *-áu̯-, to PA *-áu̯-, and finally Albanian -a-, not an -oj-. If correct, this would be an entirely unique and contradicting situation. A final PIE *-s also would not lead to an Albanian *-z, as it would immediately become an *-h in PPA before falling out entirely by Albanian. The etymology given is typically due to the similarity of the two names and deities, not proper linguistics. No proper and convincing etymology has been given and may possibly be a later innovation.

Also traditionally considered related to Albanian zot, which has been analysed as an ancient Albanian compound for "Sky father": Proto-Albanian *dźie̅u ̊ + *a(t)t-, from Proto-Indo-European *dyew- (“sky”) +‎ *átta (“father”), comparing Sanskrit द्यौष्पितृ (dyáuṣ-pitṛ́), Proto-Italic *djous patēr (whence Latin Iuppiter), Ancient Greek Ζεῦ πάτερ (Zeû páter).^[4] Like above, this etymology has its own conflicts, most significantly a very dramatic shift in meaning from "Sky Father" or "God Father" to a simple "lord". In most languages, it is the reverse (lord > Lord, God). If this were the case in Albanian, it would be truly unique.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /zɔːjz/

Noun

Zojz m (plural Zojzë, definite Zojzi, definite plural Zojzit)

(Albanian mythology) sky and lightning god, Supreme being, God

Declension

Declension of **Zojz**
	singular		plural
	indefinite	definite	indefinite	definite
nominative	Zojz	Zojzi	Zojzë	Zojzët
accusative	Zojz	Zojzin	Zojzë	Zojzët
dative	Zojzi	Zojzit	Zojzëve	Zojzëve
ablative	Zojzi	Zojzit	Zojzësh	Zojzëve

References

^ Mann, Stuart E. (1952), “The Indo-European Consonants in Albanian”, in Language, volume 28, number 1, Linguistic Society of America, →DOI, →JSTOR, pages 31–40 p. 32
^ Søborg, Tobias Mosbæk (2020) Sigmatic Verbal Formations in Anatolian and Indo-European: A Cladistic Study (Thesis)‎^[1], University of Copenhagen, Department of Nordic Studies and Linguistics
^ Hyllested, Adam; Joseph, Brian D. (2022), “Albanian”, in Olander, Thomas, editor, The Indo-European Language Family : A Phylogenetic Perspective, Cambridge University Press, →DOI, →ISBN, pages 223–245 p. 232
^ Demiraj, Bardhyl (1997), Albanische Etymologien: Untersuchungen zum albanischen Erbwortschatz [Albanian Etymologies: […]] (Leiden Studies in Indo-European; 7)‎^[2] (in German), Amsterdam, Atlanta: Rodopi, pages 431-2

[1] Mann, Stuart E. (1952), “The Indo-European Consonants in Albanian”, in Language, volume 28, number 1, Linguistic Society of America, →DOI, →JSTOR, pages 31–40 p. 32

[Søborg-2] Søborg, Tobias Mosbæk (2020) Sigmatic Verbal Formations in Anatolian and Indo-European: A Cladistic Study (Thesis)‎^[1], University of Copenhagen, Department of Nordic Studies and Linguistics

[Hyllested&Joseph-3] Hyllested, Adam; Joseph, Brian D. (2022), “Albanian”, in Olander, Thomas, editor, The Indo-European Language Family : A Phylogenetic Perspective, Cambridge University Press, →DOI, →ISBN, pages 223–245 p. 232

[4] Demiraj, Bardhyl (1997), Albanische Etymologien: Untersuchungen zum albanischen Erbwortschatz [Albanian Etymologies: […]] (Leiden Studies in Indo-European; 7)‎^[2] (in German), Amsterdam, Atlanta: Rodopi, pages 431-2

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