Linguistic Stratification and Toponymic Persistence in the Kolonjë–Leskovik Region of Southeastern Albania

This study investigates the toponymy of the Kolonjë–Leskovik region in southeastern Albania through an integrated linguistic and historical framework. Rather than treating place names as isolated etymological labels or simple reflections of historical succession, the analysis treats toponymy as a structured linguistic system shaped by historical input and stabilized through internal language mechanisms. The research examines three interrelated dimensions: the stratification of toponyms by linguistic origin (autochthonous Albanian, Slavic, Greek, Ottoman, and Aromanian), the relationship between semantic meaning and historical experience in the organization of space, and the linguistic mechanisms that enable place names to persist over time.

Using a qualitative, diachronic approach grounded in historical linguistics and Balkan onomastics, a corpus of macro- and micro-toponyms is analyzed through lexical classification, semantic interpretation, and formal linguistic examination. The findings indicate that toponymic persistence in the region depends less on etymological origin and more on the degree of morphological, syntactic, and phonological integration into Albanian, with semantic relevance further contributing to stability. The results highlight toponymy as a form of linguistic memory regulated by language structure, with implications for historical linguistics, onomastics, and cultural heritage research.