Sursilvan

Sursilvan is a dialect of the Romansh language, which belongs to the Rhaeto-Romance group of Romance languages. It is primarily spoken in the Surselva region of the canton of Graubünden in southeastern Switzerland. As one of the four recognized dialects of Romansh, Sursilvan has a distinct phonological and lexical identity, although it shares many similarities with other Romansh dialects.

Historically, Sursilvan has been used as a community language within the Surselva valley, with a significant cultural and linguistic heritage. It is written using the Latin alphabet and has standard orthography, which was developed in the 20th century to promote literacy and education in Romansh. The language is used in local administration, media, and education, alongside German, which is also widely spoken in the region.

Sursilvan plays a vital role in maintaining the cultural identity of its speakers. Efforts to preserve and promote the language include language courses, radio broadcasts, and publications. Despite these initiatives, the number of active speakers has declined over the past century due to demographic shifts and the increasing dominance of German in daily life.

The Swiss government recognizes Romansh as an official language alongside German, French, and Italian. However, Romansh, including Sursilvan, remains a minority language, with approximately 10,000 speakers as of the early 21st century. Preservation efforts continue through cultural initiatives and support from linguistic organizations aiming to sustain the vitality of Sursilvan and other Romansh dialects.

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