Tahir Dizdari

Tahir Nasuf Dizdari (15 November 1900 – 9 May 1972) was an Albanian orientalist, folklorist, and scholar. Dizdari finished his early education in the Albanian language school of his town, following later the Ruzdiye (middle school) which he couldn't finish due to the outbreak of the First Balkan War. He registered later in the Saverian College of Shkodër, finishing it in 1918. but was set free since there was no incriminating evidence against him. Nevertheless, this affected his position within the Communist society, and his relations with the scholar environment. This also marked probably the most critical moment in his life, his family would be expelled from Tirana. In 1952, he opened a small bookstore which served him for lodging as well. Due to his knowledge of Oriental languages, parts of the "Oriental words dictionary" (which would be his most notable work later) were published in the Buletinin USHT (seria shkencave shoqërore) (Bulletin of the University of Tirana: social sciences series) of early 60s, and later the Studime filologjike (Philological studies) from 1964 to 1966. He also took part and gave speeches in three conferences on albanology, held in Tirana in 1962, 1968, and 1969. The Institute of Linguistics , despite the previous political obstacles, decided to engage him as "senior scientific cooperator" , affiliated with its lexicology section, from 1965 until 9 May 1972, when Dizdari died.

The Fjalor i orientalizmave në gjuhën shqipe (Dictionary of Orientalisms in Albanian), a voluminous work of around 1200 pages, was published in 2005.

Awards Base on a proposal by the Academy of Sciences, the President of Albania Sali Berisha awarded him the order "Naim Frashëri" of 1-st Class in 1995, with the dedication "For valuable contribution in the development of Albanological studies".

Notes and references