Kosovo is one of the countries that has been suffering for decades of massive migration. More than one third of the Kosovo population live abroad nowadays making it one of the countries with highest migration in the world. The main characteristic of the Kosovo Albanian diaspora living abroad is their strong tie with the homeland and their strong attachment to their identity. An ethnic group, a story, a specific space in which was forged a culture, language which is still insufficiently known about in the scientific plan. Kosovo Albanian diaspora nowadays represent one of the most organized diasporas in the efforts of identity preservation. As such, they face with constant struggle of identity preservation on one side and social and cultural integration in the host country on the other side. While they place a specific role and importance in the use of Albanian language in family settings and correspondence with other members of Kosovo Albanian diaspora as the main element of identity preservation, they make extraordinary efforts to integrate into a new living pattern which serves them in construction of new life pursuant to new circumstances of the host country they have chosen to live. There is a constant battle between the generations’ perception on identity – while the first generation does everything to retain the language of origin, the second generation embraces the language of the host country which plays a crucial role in social and cultural integration and their active involvement in the life of the host country.

Authors:
Skender Shala, Haxhi Zeka University, Kosovo
Libron Kelmendi, Haxhi Zeka University, Kosovo

About the Presenter(s)
Dr Skender Shala is a University Assistant Professor/Lecturer at University "Ukshin Hoti", Prizren in Serbia

See this presentation on the full schedule – On Demand Schedule

Bookmark