Shaban Demiraj, a renowned linguist, professor, academic, and member of the Academy of Sciences and Arts of Kosovo, passed away. Born in Vlorë in 1920, he served as the president of the Academy of Sciences of Albania from 1993 to 1997. Demiraj completed his higher studies in Albanian language and literature at the two-year Pedagogical Institute from 1946 to 1948 and continued at the Higher Pedagogical Institute from 1954 to 1955. Between 1948 and 1954, he worked as a teacher in several secondary schools in Gjirokastër and Tirana. In 1954, he began his career as a lecturer at the Higher Pedagogical Institute and later at the University of Tirana, where he worked until 1990. Demiraj focused primarily on subjects such as the morphology of the modern Albanian language, historical grammar of Albanian, and the history of the Albanian written language, developing relevant texts as well as offering a specialized course in Balkan linguistics. He published numerous works and scientific articles internationally, addressing issues related to the history of the Albanian language, grammar, historical phonetics, and Balkan studies. He received the Republic Award of the First and Second Degree and was decorated with the “Grand Master of Work” order for his contributions to the field. (In the photo: Shaban Demiraj)
Text: Albanian encyclopedic dictionary – Vol. 1, Academy of Sciences of Albania, “Kristalina-KH”, Tirana, 2008, page 442.
Photo: © http://akad.gov.al/ash/home/asambleja/anetar/te-ndare-jeta?id=155
Graphic processing: AHCF
