Istarski

Istarski is a dialect of the Istriot language, which is a Romance language spoken in the Istria region of Croatia and Slovenia. The Istriot language is a descendant of Latin, and its closest relatives are Venetian and Dalmatian. Istarski is characterized by its unique phonology, vocabulary, and grammar, which have evolved over centuries of isolation and interaction with other languages.

The Istriot language began to diverge from Latin during the Early Middle Ages, as the Roman Empire declined and the region was gradually absorbed into the Byzantine and later the Frankish empires. The Istriot dialect developed in the western part of the Istria region, while the eastern part spoke a different dialect, known as Dalmatian. Over time, the two dialects evolved separately, with Istriot becoming more influenced by Venetian and other Romance languages, while Dalmatian retained more Latin features.

Today, Istarski is spoken by a small number of people in the western part of Istria, primarily in the towns of Poreč, Rovinj, and Umag. The language is endangered, with many speakers being elderly and few young people learning it. Efforts are being made to preserve and promote Istarski, including the establishment of language schools and the publication of literature in the dialect. Despite these efforts, the future of Istarski remains uncertain, as the language faces competition from standard Croatian and other languages spoken in the region.