Romagnol

Romagnol, sometimes called Romagnolo, is a Romance language or a set of closely related dialects spoken in Romagna, the eastern part of the Emilia-Romagna region along the Adriatic coast in northern Italy. It comprises regional varieties that form a dialect continuum with Emiliano-Romagnol and other Gallo-Italic languages rather than a single standardized form of Italian. In everyday life, Romagnol is used alongside Italian and, in some areas, experienced in cultural contexts such as traditional songs and local media.

Classification and relationships: Romagnol belongs to the Italo-Western branch of Romance. Most linguists place it within the Emilian–Romagnol group of the Gallo-Italic subfamily, though some scholars treat Romagnol as a distinct language based on historical development and regional identity. The distinction between language and dialect in Romagnol often reflects social and cultural factors as well as linguistic differences.

Geographic distribution and usage: It has historically been spoken across the Romagna area, with diverse local varieties in urban and rural communities. Today, Italian remains the dominant language in education, administration, and mass media, while Romagnol survives primarily in informal speech, family settings, and cultural activities. Language transmission is uneven, and use among younger generations varies by locality.

Status and orthography: Romagnol is generally considered a minority language in Italy. There is no single standardized orthography; spelling typically follows local conventions or adapts Italian conventions. Documentation includes dictionaries, grammars, and literary texts, and there are local initiatives aimed at preserving and promoting Romagnol.

See also: Emilian-Romagnol, Emilian language, Italian language, Romance languages.