What language is spoken in Albania?

In Albania, Albanian is spoken. This language, known as Shqip by the locals, belongs to the Indo-European language family and has developed into a distinct language group over the centuries. There are two main dialects, Gheg in the north and Tosk in the south of the country. Interestingly, the modern standard version of the Albanian written language is based on Tosk, which has been officially recognized since 1972. Albanian has a unique vocabulary and a complex grammar, which are noticeably different from its Slavic, Greek, and Romance neighbors. This reflects the isolated yet multifaceted historical development of Albania. Moreover, the language is characterized by a special phonetic diversity, including the use of rare sounds that are hardly found in other European languages. This gives Albanian a distinctive sound. Additionally, knowledge of Italian, English, and Greek is also widespread in parts of the country, especially among the younger population and in urban centers, where the influence of international media and the need to communicate with tourists lead to increased multilingualism.