Nicolò Chetta (1741–1803), a researcher of the Albanian language and history of Albanians, was an Arbëresh poet from the village of Contessa Entelina, Sicily. He studied at the Arbëresh college in Palermo, became a priest, and served as rector of this college. He compiled a range of works, including an Italian-Albanian dictionary of around 5000 words; “Etimologico della lingua albanese” (“Etymological Dictionary of the Albanian Language”) with more than 10 thousand words, a brief attempt at Albanian grammar; “Catalog of the great Arbëresh families” and “Tesoro di notizie su dei Macedoni” (“Treasure of information about the Macedonians”). The latter work is divided into three parts. In the first part, the author tries to prove the origin of Albanians from ancient Macedonians, whom he imagines as close to Epirotes and as descendants of Pelasgians; in the second part, he talks about Albanians during the time of Skanderbeg, and in the third, about the Arbëresh settlements in Sicily and their dialects. This work is published with explanations and critical notes from the study. One aspect that should be especially mentioned is a semi-autobiographical poem, which is the first of its kind in the history of Albanian poetry. Most of his works remain in manuscript form.
(In the photo: Nicolò Chetta)
Text: Albanian encyclopedic dictionary – Vol. 2 , Academy of Sciences of Albania, “Kristalina-KH”, Tirana, 2008, page 1152.
Photo: © http://qspa.gov.al/279-vjetori-i-lindjes-se-hulumtuesit-te-gjuhes-shqipe-poetit-nikolle-keta/
Graphic processing: AHCF
