Gjuhësi Ballkanike

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Chapter V
The Coincidence of Genitive and Dative Case Forms
Since Miklosich the formal coincidence of these two functionally distinct cases has been
acknowledged as a Balkan phenomenon. But its origin in the various Balkan languages has been
differently explained. Some scholars have tried to explain it through the influence of the
substratum, whereas according to some others, its origin is due to the Greek or Latin influence.
(1-2).
In Greek the use of the genitive form also as a dative is attested since the first centuries of the
New Era. But In New Greeek the dative is expressed also by the accusative form preceded by
the prepostition tou. (3).
In attested Albanian the genitive and dative come out with the same case endings in both
numbers. Such a formal coincidence, which is wide-spread in all Albanian dialects, including
those of the Arbëreshs of Greece and Italy, should date back to much earlier times than the XVI
century. Historically, the endings of these both cases in the singular belong to the dative,
whereas in the plural they have a genitive origin. (4). But since its pre-literary period Albanian
has distinguished the genitive case through the so-called prepostitive “article”. (5). The last
phenomenon, which has taken place in Rumanian, too, should have appeared after the
coincidence of the two cases in question. This formal coincidence, however, remains unclear. It
should have been brought about by factors of syntactic or morphological character. It is, in all
probability, due to the relatively ancient reduction of their case endings and to the action of
analogy. (6-7). As the genitive prepositive “article” has originated through the mechanical
repetition of the postpositive article of the preceding noun, this phenomenon should have taken
place, at first, in such word-groups in which the first noun was in the definite form. The
distinction of the genitive was achieved in such a way, since the end of the caseform was
overcharged by the presence of the case ending and of the definite article. On the other hand, the
use of a preposition in this case was incompatible with the declension system of Albanian (8).
The coincidence of the genitive and dative case forms in Rumanian is almost similar to that of
Albanian (see the Albanian version).(9). In Rumanian, too, the genitive has been pre-articulated,
but only when it follows an indefinite noun form. This phenomenon in Rumanian has appeared
between the XII and XIV centuries.(10).
In Bulgarian and Macedonian the analytic form of the dative has been extended to the genitive,
too. This phenomenon seems to have appeared not earlier than the XV century.(11).
It has has also been pointed out that in Greek, Bulgarian-Macedonian and Rumanian the dative
form of the personal pronouns is used enclitically as a possessive genitive.(12). Albanian, too,
should not be excluded in this case. The question is not only of the personal pronouns of the
third person, but also of the possessive pronouns in general. Such e phenomenon in Albanian is
of a relatively ancient date (see the Albanian version).(13).
The formal coincidence of the genitive end dative cases has been differently explained by
various scholars.(14). Some of them have sought its origin in the substratum, which has been
differently thought about. Such a hypothesis seems to be groundless.(15). According to some
other scholars, this phenomenon in the Balkan languages is due to the Greek influence. Such a
hypothesis, too, is liable to criticism (see the Albanian version).(16). The Latin origin of the
phenomenon, invoked by some other scholars, may be admitted only for Rumanian (see the
Albanian version).(17-18). It seems most probable that the coincidence of the genitive and
dative in the Balkan languages is due to a parallel development.(19).
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