Compound Pronouns in English and Albanian

Abstract

This study concentrates on compound pronouns in English and Albanian. Compounding is considered as one of the most prolific word formation techniques in both languages. The study is made up of three basic parts: compounding is analysed theoretically; compound pronouns collected by the Dictionary of Contemporary Albanian Language and Oxford Student’s Dictionary are analysed; conclusions are drawn as of their similarities and differences. Albanian language provides interesting results as it includes a specific category of pronouns under a different heading than compounding and that is agglutinated pronouns. Compound pronouns are analysed quantitatively and qualitatively in both languages. Quantitative analysis deals with their positioning in relation to all compound words per each dictionary. Qualitative analysis deals with the elements constituting the compound pronouns. The study also pinpoints the differences and similarities between compound pronouns when translated from English into Albanian and vice versa. The study is illustrated with abundant examples in both languages. Statistic results of the study show that Albanian compound (agglutinated) pronouns outnumber the English compound pronouns? 81: 18; also constituent structures of Alb. vs Eng. pronouns are ?9:2. Translation of pronouns from one language into the other: one English pronoun – different Albanian pronouns and vice versa.