Toponymy as Linguistic Memory: Historical Layers and Structural Integration in the Kolonjë–Leskovik Region of Southeastern Albania

This study explores the toponymy of the Kolonjë–Leskovik region in southeastern Albania, treating place names as linguistic elements that preserve historical and cultural layers within the Albanian language. Given the lack of a continuous written historical tradition, toponyms are approached as a form of linguistic memory through which language development can be traced. The study examines how these toponyms are integrated into the Albanian linguistic system and what they reveal about historical contact with other languages. The methodology combines data from the “Etymological Dictionary of the Albanian Language” with field-based validation through questionnaires with local inhabitants. Starting from 70 toponyms, only those recognized by at least 70% of respondents and understood by at least 50% were retained, resulting in a final dataset of 40. The analysis focuses on three dimensions: lexical layers, structural integration (phonological and morphological), and semantic motivation. The findings show that, although influenced by Slavic, Byzantine, and Ottoman elements, the toponymy of the region is organized around a stable Albanian base, where external elements are adapted rather than replaced. Based on these results, the study proposes a methodological framework for Albanian toponymy that combines etymological literature with field-based validation in a diachronic perspective. This approach is particularly relevant in the current context, where migration, brain drain, and population ageing are gradually reshaping linguistic usage.