The Paleo-Balkan languages were the Indo-European languages that were spoken in the Balkans in ancient times.With the exception of Greek and the language that gave rise to Albanian (see below), they are all extinct, due to Hellenization (in the south), Romanization (in the north) as well as the later Slavic migrations.

• Dacian language
• Thracian language
• Illyrian language
• Paionian language
• Proto-Greek language
• Greek language
• Armenian language
• Phrygian language

Albanian may have evolved from Dacian, Thracian, or Illyrian, but it is still disputed which language was its ancestor.

Because of the fragmentary evidence that has survived, it is unknown how closely related these languages were, i.e., whether they belonged to a common branch of the Indo-European language family or merely a Sprachbund. However, no linguist proposes that the Liburnian language---which is generally considered to have been closely akin to the Venetic language---is part of the same IE branch as the Greek language.

Many substratum words of Paleo-Balkan origin are found in Romanian, and in some South Slavic languages.

See also

• Thraco-Cimmerians
• Balkanization
• Origin of Albanians
• Eastern Romance substratum
• Prehistoric Balkans
• Thraco-Illyrian

References

• "A Grammar of Modern Indo-European" Pages 73-81 by Carlos Quiles ISBN 8461176391