Arpitan

Arpitan, also called Franco-Provençal, is a Romance language traditionally spoken in the Alpine regions of Europe. It is considered a distinct language within the Gallo-Romance group, separate from both French and Italian. The name Arpitan is used by some speakers and scholars to emphasize regional identity, while Franco-Provençal remains common in linguistic literature.

Geographic distribution and varieties. Arpitan has been spoken across parts of France (notably the Savoy and surrounding alpine areas), western Switzerland (Romandy, including cantons such as Valais and Vaud), and northern Italy (the Aosta Valley and Alpine areas of Piedmont). Today, speakers are concentrated in rural and mountain communities, and various local dialects or varieties exist rather than a single standardized form. Writing traditions are diverse, with several orthographies in use and ongoing attempts at standardization by researchers and cultural groups.

Status and revival. The language is generally endangered, with shifting usage toward the dominant national languages of each country (French in France and parts of Switzerland, Italian in Italy). Despite this, Arpitan remains an important marker of regional identity and cultural heritage for many communities. Revitalization efforts include linguistic documentation, dictionaries and educational materials, community associations, and media in Arpitan. In Italy’s Aosta Valley, French is co-official with Italian in some contexts, which supports the presence of Franco-Provençal varieties there. Swiss and French initiatives also aim to promote regional languages, though Arpitan faces ongoing challenges related to language prestige and intergenerational transmission.