Languages of Italy (dal sito dell'Unesco)

Italian Republic, Repubblica Italiana. National or official languages: Italian, French (regional), Standard German (regional), Serbo-Croatian. 57,369,000 (1998 UN). Literacy rate 97% to 98%. Also includes Judeo-Tripolitanian Arabic 5,000, Judeo-Tunisian Arabic, Assyrian Neo-Aramaic, English 29,000, Kabuverdianu 10,000, Maltese 28,000, Somali, Chinese 40,000, people from Eritrea, the Philippines. Information mainly from R.A. Hall 1974; M. Stephens 1976; F.B. Agard 1984; B. Comrie 1987. Christian, secular. Blind population 100,000. Deaf population 3,524,906. Deaf institutions: 80. Data accuracy estimate: B. The number of languages listed for Italy is 33. Of those, all are living languages. Diversity index 0.59.

Spoken living languages ALBANIAN, ARBËRESHË [AAE] 80,000 (L. Newmark) to 100,000 speakers (N. Vincent in B. Comrie 1987), out of a population of 260,000 (1976 M. Stephens). Southern; Calabria, Apulia, Basilicata, Molise, Sicily. Alternate names: ARBËRESHË. Dialects: SICILIAN ALBANIAN, CALABRIAN ALBANIAN, CENTRAL MOUNTAIN ALBANIAN, CAMPO MARINO ALBANIAN. Classification: Indo-European, Albanian, Tosk.
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BAVARIAN [BAR] South Bavarian is in the Bavarian Alps, Tyrol, Styria, including Heanzian dialect of Burgenland, Carinthia, northern Italy, and part of Gottschee; Central Bavarian is in the Alps and Lower Austria and Salzburg; North Bavarian in the north of Regensburg, to Nuremburg and Western Bohemia, Czech Republic. Alternate names: BAYERISCH, BAVARIAN AUSTRIAN. Dialects: CENTRAL BAVARIAN, NORTH BAVARIAN, SOUTH BAVARIAN. Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, German, Upper German, Bavarian-Austrian.
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CATALAN-VALENCIAN-BALEAR [CLN] 20,000 in Alghero (1996). Alghero, northwest coast on Sardinia. Dialects: ALGHERESE. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Ibero-Romance, East Iberian.
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CIMBRIAN [CIM] 2,230 including 500 in Lusernese Cimbrian in Trentino Alto Oolige 40 km. southeast from Trento, plus 1,500 Sette Comuni Cimbrian (40% of Roana (Rowan), 70% of Messaselva di Roana Rotzo) in Veneto around 60 km. north of Vicenza (1978 H. Kloss), and 230 or 65% of Giazza (Ijetzan) Veneto, 43 km. northeast of Verona (1992 R. Zamponi). There were 22,700 speakers in Sieben Gemainde and 12,400 in Dreizehn Gemeinde in 1854. Northeast Italy, Sette and Tredici Comuni (Sieben and Dreizehn Gemainde) south of Trent, towns of Giazza (Glietzen, Ljetzen), Roana (Rabam), Lusern, some in Venetia Province. Alternate names: TZIMBRO, ZIMBRISCH. Dialects: LUSERNESE CIMBRIAN, TREDICI COMMUNI CIMBRIAN (TAUCH), SETTE COMUNI CIMBRIAN. Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, German, Upper German, Bavarian-Austrian.
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CORSICAN [COI] Maddalena Island, northeast coast of Sardinia. Alternate names: CORSO, CORSU, CORSE, CORSI. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Southern, Corsican.
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EMILIANO-ROMAGNOLO [EML] 3,531,780 speakers in Emilia-Romagna (1987) Maurizio Masetti). About 10% of the people in the province come from elsewhere, and do not speak the language. Population total both countries 3,551,892. Alternate names: EMILIANO, EMILIAN, SAMMARINESE. Dialects: WESTERN EMILIANO, CENTRAL EMILIANO, EASTERN EMILIANO, NORTHERN ROMAGNOLO, SOUTHERN ROMAGNOLO, MANTOVANO, VOGHERESE-PAVESE, LUNIGIANO. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Italian.
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FRANCO-PROVENÇAL [FRA] 70,000 in Italy (1971 census), including 700 Faetar speakers (1995 Naomi Nagy). Northwest Italy, Aosta Valley. A small speech community also in Faeto and Celle S. Vito in the Province of Foggia in Apulia, and Guardia Piemontese in Calabria, Cosenza. Covers a huge area. Dialects: VALLE D'AOSTA (PATOÉ VALDOTEN, VALDOTAIN, VALDOSTANO), FAETO (FAETAR), CELLE SAN VITO. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Rhaetian, Oïl, Southeastern.
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FRENCH [FRN] 100,000 in Italy (M. Harris in B. Comrie 1987). Aosta Valley. Alternate names: FRANÇAIS. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Rhaetian, Oïl, French.
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FRIULIAN [FRL] 600,000 (1976 Stephens). Northeast and adjacent areas, northern Friuli-Venezia-Giulia on the borders of the Austrian province of Corinthia and the Republic of Slovenia. Alternate names: FURLAN, FRIOULAN, FRIOULIAN, PRIULIAN, FRIULANO. Dialects: EAST CENTRAL FRIULIAN, WESTERN FRIULIAN, CARNICO. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Rhaetian, Rhaetian.
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GERMAN, STANDARD [GER] 225,000 in Italy (N. Vincent in B. Comrie 1987). Northern, Trentino-Alto Adige, South Tyrol, Province of Bolzano. Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, German, Middle German, East Middle German.
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GREEK [GRK] 20,000 in Italy (N. Vincent in B. Comrie 1987). Southern, east of Reggio; Salento (Colimera, Sternatía, Zollino) and Aspromonte (Bova, Condofuri, Palizzi, Roccoforte, Roghudi). Dialects: SALENTO, ASPROMONTE. Classification: Indo-European, Greek, Attic.
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ITALIAN [ITN] 55,000,000 mother tongue speakers, some of whom are native bilinguals of Italian and regional varieties, and some of whom may use Italian as second language. Population total all countries 62,000,000. Alternate names: ITALIANO. Dialects: TUSCAN, ABRUZZESE, PUGLIESE, UMBRIAN, LAZIALE, CENTRAL MARCHIGIANO, CICOLANO-REATINO-AQUILANO, MOLISANO. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Italo-Dalmatian.
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JUDEO-ITALIAN [ITK] A tiny number who speak it fluently. Perhaps 4,000 occasionally use elements of it in their speech (1/10th of Italy's 40,000 Jews). Alternate names: ITALKIAN. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Italo-Dalmatian. Nearly extinct.
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LADIN [LLD] 30,000 to 35,000 in Italy (1976 Stephens). Population total both countries 30,000 to 35,000. Alternate names: DOLOMITE. Dialects: ATESINO, CADORINO, NONES (NONES BLOT, NONESH, PARLATA TRENTINA, NONESE), GARDENA (GARDENESE, GRÜDNO), FASSANO, BADIOTTO, MAREBBANO, LIVINALLESE, AMPEZZANO. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Rhaetian, Rhaetian.
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LIGURIAN [LIJ] 1,853,578 (1976). Population total all countries 1,856,680 or more. Alternate names: LÍGURU, LIGURE. Dialects: GENOESE (GENOAN, GENOVESE). Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Italian.
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LOMBARD [LMO] 8,671,210 in Italy (1976). Population total all countries 8,974,000. Alternate names: LOMBARDO. Dialects: MILANESE, EASTERN LOMBARD, WESTERN LOMBARD (PIAZZA ARMERINA, NOVARA, NICOSIA, SAN FRATELLO), ALPINE LOMBARD, NOVARESE LOMBARD, TRENTINO WESTERN, LATIN FIAMAZZO, LATIN ANAUNICO, BERGAMASCO, TICINESE (TICINO). Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Italian.
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MÓCHENO [QMO] 1,900 including 400 Fierozzo, 1,000 Palú, 460 Gereut (1992 Raoul Zamponi). Valle del Fersina (Trentino). Dialects: FIEROZZO (FLORUTZ), PALÚ (PALAI), FRASSILONGO (GEREUT). Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, German, Upper German, Bavarian-Austrian.
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NAPOLETANO-CALABRESE [NPL] 7,047,399 (1976). Campania and Calabria provinces, southern Italy. Alternate names: NEAPOLITAN-CALABRESE. Dialects: NAPOLETANO (NEAPOLITAN, TIRRENIC), NORTHERN CALABRESE-LUCANO (LUCANIAN, BASILICATAN). Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Italo-Dalmatian.
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PIEMONTESE [PMS] 3,000,000 (1976). Population total all countries 3,000,000. Alternate names: PIEMONTÈIS, PIEDMONTESE. Dialects: HIGH PIEMONTESE, LOW PIEMONTESE. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Italian.
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PROVENÇAL [PRV] 100,000 in Italy (1990 P. Blanchet). Upper valleys of the Italian Piedmont (Val Mairo, Val Varacho, Val d'Esturo, Entraigas, Limoun, Vinai, Pignerol, Sestriero), Guardia Piemonese in Calabria. Alternate names: PROVENZALE. Dialects: TRANSALPIN. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Ibero-Romance, Oc.
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ROMANI, BALKAN [RMN] 5,000 Arlija in Italy. Dialects: ARLIJA (ERLI). Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Central zone, Romani, Balkan.
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ROMANI, SINTE [RMO] 14,000 in Italy including 10,000 Manouche, 4,000 Slovenian-Croatian. North Italy. Dialects: PIEDMONT SINTÍ, SLOVENIAN-CROATIAN, MANOUCHE. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Central zone, Romani, Northern.
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ROMANI, VLAX [RMY] 2,000 to 4,000 in Italy including 1,000 to 3,000 Kalderash, 1,000 Lovari. Dialects: KALDERASH, LOVARI. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Central zone, Romani, Vlax.
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SARDINIAN, CAMPIDANESE [SRO] Southern Sardinia. Alternate names: SARDU, CAMPIDANESE, CAMPIDESE, SOUTH SARDINIAN. Dialects: CAGLIARE (CAGLIARI, CAGLIARITAN), ARBORENSE, SUB-BARBARICINO, WESTERN CAMPIDENESE, CENTRAL CAMPIDANESE, OGLIASTRINO, SULCITANO, MERIDIONALE, SARRABENSE. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Southern, Sardinian.
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SARDINIAN, GALLURESE [SDN] Gallurese is in northeastern Sardinia. Alternate names: NORTHEASTERN SARDINIAN, GALLURESE. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Southern, Sardinian.
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SARDINIAN, LOGUDORESE [SRD] 1,500,000 including all Sardinian languages (1977 M. Ibba, Rutgers University). Central Sardinia. Alternate names: SARD, SARDARESE, LOGUDORESE, CENTRAL SARDINIAN. Dialects: NUORESE, NORTHERN LOGUDORESE, BARBARICINO, SOUTHWESTERN LOGUDORESE. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Southern, Sardinian.
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SARDINIAN, SASSARESE [SDC] Northwestern Sardinia. Alternate names: NORTHWESTERN SARDINIAN, SASSARESE. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Southern, Sardinian.
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SERBO-CROATIAN [SRC] 3,500 in Italy (N. Vincent in B. Comrie 1987). Molise, southern, villages of Montemitro, San Felice del Molise, Acquaviva-Collecroce. Dialects: CROATIAN. Classification: Indo-European, Slavic, South, Western.
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SICILIAN [SCN] 4,680,715 (1976). Sicily, an island off the southern mainland. Alternate names: CALABRO-SICILIAN. Dialects: WESTERN SICILIAN (PALERMO, TRAPANI, CENTRAL-WESTERN AGRIGENTINO), CENTRAL METAFONETICA, SOUTHEAST METAFONETICA, EASTERN NONMETAFONETICA, MESSINESE, ISOLE EOLIE, PANTESCO, SOUTHERN CALABRO. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Italo-Dalmatian.
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SLOVENIAN [SLV] 100,000 in Italy (N. Vincent in B. Comrie 1987). The provinces of Trieste and Gorizia in northeast near Slovenia border. Alternate names: SLOVENE. Dialects: PRIMORSKI, CIVIDALE, RESIA. Classification: Indo-European, Slavic, South, Western.
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VENETIAN [VEC] 2,109,502 in Italy (1976). Population total all countries 2,210,000. Alternate names: VENETO. Dialects: ISTRIAN, TRIESTINO, VENETIAN PROPER, BISIACCO. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Italian.
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WALSER [WAE] 3,400 in Italy (1978 Fazzini). Valle d'Aosta: Val Lesa (Gressoney, Issime, Gaby); Piemonte: Valsesie (Alagna, Rima S. Siuseppe, Rimelle), Novara: Valle Anzacxa (Macugnage); Val Formazza (Formazza, Pomatt). 9 communities in Italy, and 4 former ones. Alternate names: WALSCHER. Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, German, Upper German, Allemannic.
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Deaf sign languages
ITALIAN SIGN LANGUAGE [ISE] Alternate names: LINGUA ITALIANA DEI SEGNI, LIS. Classification: Deaf sign language.
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