Mòcheno language

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Mòcheno
Bersntolerisch, Bersntoler sproch
Native toItaly
RegionBersntol
Native speakers
(1,900 cited 1992)[1]
Language codes
ISO 639-3mhn
Glottologmoch1255
ELPMócheno
 Mòcheno communities in Trentino

Mòcheno (Italian pronunciation: [ˈmɔkeno]; German: Fersentalerisch; Bavarian: Bersntolerisch) is an Upper German variety spoken in three towns of the Bersntol (German: Fersental, Italian: Valle del Fersina), in Trentino, northeastern Italy.

Mòcheno is closely related to

Cimbrian, or Standard German
. However, many essential differences in grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation render it difficult for speakers of Standard German to understand.

Name

The name Mòcheni used by bilingual Italian- and Ladin-speaking neighbours to refer to the speakers of the language has been coined from the verb mòchen "to make", often used to build compound predicates in the language.[2]

Geographic distribution

According to the census of 2001, the first in which data on native languages were recorded, Mòcheno was spoken by a majority in the following municipalities (numbers of members of the Mòcheno linguistic group): Fierozzo/Florutz/Vlarotz (423 people, 95.92%), Palù/Palai/Palae (184 people, 95.34%), Frassilongo/Gereut/Garait (340 people, 95.24%, including the village of Roveda/Eichleit/Oachlait). In other municipalities of Trentino 1,329 persons declared themselves members of the Mòcheno linguistic group, a total of 2,276 in Trentino.[3] In the 2011 census, the total number of speakers in the Province decreased to 1,660.[4]

Status

Mòcheno is officially recognised in Trentino by provincial and national law. Starting in the 1990s, various laws and regulations have been passed by the Italian parliament and provincial assembly that put the Mòcheno language and culture under protection. A cultural institute was founded by decree, whose purpose is to safeguard and raise awareness of the language. School curricula were adapted in order to teach in Mòcheno, and Italian street signs are being changed to bilingual Mòcheno/Italian.

Sample text

Mòcheno German English

Vatar ingar
en Himbl,
gahailegt kimmp der dai Núm.
der dai Raich schellt kemmen.[5]

Vater unser
im Himmel,
geheiligt werde Dein Name.
Dein Reich komme.

Our Father
in heaven,
hallowed be Thy name.
Thy kingdom come.

References

  1. ^ Mòcheno at Ethnologue (23rd ed., 2020) Closed access icon
  2. ^ Ignaz Grandi, a letter to the editor of Tageszeitung Dolomiten from Sept. 29th, 1981
  3. ^ "Tav. I.5 - Appartenenza alla popolazione di lingua ladina, mochena e cimbra, per comune di area di residenza (Censimento 2001)" (PDF). Annuario Statistico 2006 (in Italian). Autonomous Province of Trento. 2007. Retrieved 2011-05-12.
  4. ^ "Census Statistica" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2021-01-07. Retrieved 2012-10-24.
  5. ^ "Das Vaterunser auf Mòchenisch (Fersentalerisch)" (in Mòcheno). Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. 2006. Retrieved 2011-05-13.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)

Further reading

Grammar
  • Anthony Rowley: Liacht as de sproch. Grammatica della lingua mòchena / Grammatik des Deutsch-Fersentalerischen. Istituto Culturale Mòcheno-Cimbro / Kulturinstitut für das Fersental und Lusern / Kulturinstitut Bersntol-Lusérn, Palù del Fèrsina (Trento) 2003,
    ISBN 88-900656-1-3 (Digitalisat: PDF
    )
Dictionary
Secondary literature

External links

Media related to Mòcheno language at Wikimedia Commons