Italian Graubünden

The Italian Graubünden in a map of the canton of Graubünden

The Italian Graubünden or Italian Grigioni (Italian: Grigionitaliano or Grigioni italiano; German: Italienischbünden; Romansh: Grischun talian) is the region of the Canton of Graubünden, Switzerland where Italian and Lombard are spoken.

Located in the southernmost part of the canton, it includes the districts of Moesa (to the west) and Bernina (to the east), and the municipalities of Bivio in the Albula district and Bregaglia in the Maloggia district. It has a population of about 15,000 inhabitants, of which over 85% speak Italian or Lombard.[1]

Geography

The three regions that make up the Italian Graubünden are separated by mountains, isolated from the rest of the canton as well as from each other. Because of their remoteness and the lack of economic possibilities, emigration has traditionally been a serious issue, and even today more than half of the people born in the Italian Graubünden live and work outside of the region in the predominantly Italian-speaking canton of Ticino.[2]

Education

In previous years, the importance of Italian in the canton has been at a decreasing rate, especially in the two regions farther from Ticino. This was believed to be caused by the immigration of germanophones in traditionally Italian-speaking areas, the spread of German language mass media and the absence of secondary schools teaching in Italian in Graubünden.[2] However, due the increase use of Standard Italian in education, improvements in the use of Italian media, and special education opportunities for Italian speakers has improved the lives of Italians in the region. This has led to limited contact with German speakers outside Italian areas.

Pro Grigioni Italiano, an organisation created in 1918 to promote the Italian language and culture in Graubünden, is officially recognised by the cantonal government as representing the indigenous Italian-speaking minority of the canton.[3]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Diffusion and varieties of Italian in Switzerland in German, French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland.
  2. 1 2 "Terra e lingua" (in Italian). Pro Grigioni Italiano. Archived from the original on June 22, 2007. Retrieved 8 July 2009.
  3. ↑ Pro Grigioni Italiano in German, French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland.

External links

Coordinates: 46°20′36″N 9°35′26″E / 46.3434°N 9.590624°E / 46.3434; 9.590624

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