Cimbrian language

Cimbrian is the name for several local dialects that belong to the Upper German group of languages. It is spoken in parts of the Italian regions of Trentino and Veneto. The people who speak this language call themselves Zimbern in German.

Cimbrian is closely related to Bavarian and probably comes from a Southern Bavarian dialect. It is also connected to the Mòcheno language. However, because of big differences in grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation, it can be hard for people who speak Standard German or even Bavarian to understand Cimbrian.

Over time, the wide use of Italian and the influence of the nearby Venetian language have greatly affected the number of Cimbrian speakers. Because of this, Cimbrian is now considered an endangered language.

History

The first records of people from Bavaria moving to a place called Verona date back to around the year 1050. More people kept moving there during the 1100s and 1200s.

Some people thought the speakers of this language might have come from a group called the Lombards, but most experts believe they were part of a bigger group of people who moved to the area during the 1100s and 1200s. Italian writers in the 1300s noticed these German-speaking communities and linked them to an old group called the Cimbri, even though they probably were not the same people. The name "Zimbar" that these speakers use for themselves might come from an old word meaning "carpenter."

Dialects and status

The Cimbrian language has three main dialects spoken in a few places. These include the village of Roana in the Seven Communities, Luserna in Trentino, the village of Giazza in the Thirteen Communities, and some villages in the Carnic Alps like Sappada, Sauris, and Timau.

Cimbrian is facing decline because many people now use standard Italian or the nearby Venetian language. Only around 2,220 people still speak Cimbrian today. In the area of Luserna, most people can still speak the language, but in other places like Giazza and Roana, only a few older people speak it.

Luckily, Cimbrian is protected by laws in Italy. Schools teach the language, and there are special signs in both Cimbrian and Italian. A cultural institute was created to help keep the language and traditions alive, with activities like competitions and summer camps for children.

Phonology

A star shows sounds used by speakers of the Lusern dialect when they are in areas that only speak Italian, away from Lusern.

Grammar and orthography

The Cimbrian language has its own special ways of writing and forming words, mostly based on Italian and German writing rules with a few extra symbols. This helps show sounds that aren’t found in Italian.

Cimbrian nouns, like in German, have three genders—masculine, feminine, and neuter—and they change their endings depending on who or what they are describing, and whether they are doing something, having something, or being something. Verbs in Cimbrian change to show who is doing the action, when it is happening, and the mood of the sentence. The language mixes some Italian and German ways of putting words together, making it unique.

Vocabulary

The Cimbrian language shares many words with Bavarian and has words that make it unique compared to other German languages. Even though people in Bavarian areas use fewer Bavarian words today because of standard German, Cimbrian still keeps many of these old words. Besides its original Bavarian words, Cimbrian has also been influenced by Italian and nearby languages.

Examples