Vedat Kokona
Encyclopedia
Vedat Kokona is an Albanian
translator, writer
and lexicologist of the 20th century, well known for his dual dictionaries English-Albanian and French-Albanian and his contributions in Albanian
lexicology
and lexicography
.
, Turkey
, to an Albanian intellectual family, originary from Gjirokastra, Albania
. His father, Elmaz, was a lawyer. Upon the return of their family to Albania in 1920, he followed the primary school in Tirana
. He finished in 1935 the lyceum
of Korca
, then pursued higher studies in law in Paris
, France
.
in the Lyceum of Korca
. There, Kokona was distinguished as a gifted teacher. Subsequently, in the early 40's he was appointed at the Gymnasium of Tirana.
During the fascist invasion, when Kokona worked as a teacher, he was required to spy on the students and to deal with work that he could not accept due to his principles and character. This was the reason why he felt that he had to resign from the teaching profession. After World War II
he went back to the Gymnasium of Tirana, now "Qemal Stafa" High School. In 1949 he was appointed as an editor and translator in the publishing house "Naim Frasheri" and as a professor of French at the University of Tirana, where he taught until retirement.
He is one of the most important Albanian authors in lexicology and lexicography.
Kokona is one of the most renowned translators from French, Italian, English and Russian. He has made significant contributions in the field of translation of poetry and prose by bringing in Albanian language about 15 thousand verses from the poetry of the world.
and also is Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters, and Officer of the Order of the Academic Palms, two orders of chivalry, awarded by the French Government.
Albanians
Albanians are a nation and ethnic group native to Albania and neighbouring countries. They speak the Albanian language. More than half of all Albanians live in Albania and Kosovo...
translator, writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
and lexicologist of the 20th century, well known for his dual dictionaries English-Albanian and French-Albanian and his contributions in Albanian
Albanian language
Albanian is an Indo-European language spoken by approximately 7.6 million people, primarily in Albania and Kosovo but also in other areas of the Balkans in which there is an Albanian population, including western Macedonia, southern Montenegro, southern Serbia and northwestern Greece...
lexicology
Lexicology
Lexicology is the part of linguistics which studies words, their nature and meaning, words' elements, relations between words , word groups and the whole lexicon....
and lexicography
Lexicography
Lexicography is divided into two related disciplines:*Practical lexicography is the art or craft of compiling, writing and editing dictionaries....
.
Early life
Kokona was born on August 8, 1913, in IzmirIzmir
Izmir is a large metropolis in the western extremity of Anatolia. The metropolitan area in the entire Izmir Province had a population of 3.35 million as of 2010, making the city third most populous in Turkey...
, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, to an Albanian intellectual family, originary from Gjirokastra, Albania
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
. His father, Elmaz, was a lawyer. Upon the return of their family to Albania in 1920, he followed the primary school in Tirana
Tirana
Tirana is the capital and the largest city of Albania. Modern Tirana was founded as an Ottoman town in 1614 by Sulejman Bargjini, a local ruler from Mullet, although the area has been continuously inhabited since antiquity. Tirana became Albania's capital city in 1920 and has a population of over...
. He finished in 1935 the lyceum
Lyceum
The lyceum is a category of educational institution defined within the education system of many countries, mainly in Europe. The definition varies between countries; usually it is a type of secondary school.-History:...
of Korca
Korča
Korča is a village in the municipality of Hadžići, Bosnia and Herzegovina.-References:...
, then pursued higher studies in law in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
Teaching years
After his law studies Kokona was appointed to the Civil Court of Kruja, which office he did not accept. Subsequently, he was appointed as a teacher of AlbanianAlbanian language
Albanian is an Indo-European language spoken by approximately 7.6 million people, primarily in Albania and Kosovo but also in other areas of the Balkans in which there is an Albanian population, including western Macedonia, southern Montenegro, southern Serbia and northwestern Greece...
in the Lyceum of Korca
Korča
Korča is a village in the municipality of Hadžići, Bosnia and Herzegovina.-References:...
. There, Kokona was distinguished as a gifted teacher. Subsequently, in the early 40's he was appointed at the Gymnasium of Tirana.
During the fascist invasion, when Kokona worked as a teacher, he was required to spy on the students and to deal with work that he could not accept due to his principles and character. This was the reason why he felt that he had to resign from the teaching profession. After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
he went back to the Gymnasium of Tirana, now "Qemal Stafa" High School. In 1949 he was appointed as an editor and translator in the publishing house "Naim Frasheri" and as a professor of French at the University of Tirana, where he taught until retirement.
Work
Vedat Kokona devoted most of life and work to French language. He was one of the best lexicologues of this language. He worked on and published different French-Albanian and Albanian-French dictionaries and also English-Albanian dictionaries. His first dictionary was published in 1932. His last dictionary is a 40-thousand words work.He is one of the most important Albanian authors in lexicology and lexicography.
Kokona is one of the most renowned translators from French, Italian, English and Russian. He has made significant contributions in the field of translation of poetry and prose by bringing in Albanian language about 15 thousand verses from the poetry of the world.
Recognition
Vedat Kokona holds numerous titles, orders and decorations. He holds a PhD "Honoris causa" from the University of TiranaUniversity of Tirana
The University of Tirana is a public university located in Tirana, Albania.-History:UT was founded in 1957 as the State University of Tirana through the merging of five existing institutes of higher education, the most important of which was the Institute of Sciences, founded in 1947...
and also is Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters, and Officer of the Order of the Academic Palms, two orders of chivalry, awarded by the French Government.