Vallader

Vallader is a dialect of Romansh, a Romance language spoken in the Swiss canton of Graubünden. It belongs to the eastern group of Romansh dialects and is closely related to Putèr and Surmiran, though it is recognized as a distinct variety with its own literary and spoken tradition. Vallader is mainly spoken in the eastern Graubünden region, particularly in the Engadine and nearby valleys, where it serves as a community language in daily life, education, and local media.

Vallader has its own traditional orthography used in literature and education, and it is distinct from Rumantsch Grischun, the national standard form of Romansh introduced in Switzerland. In practice, Vallader texts often appear in local contexts, while Rumantsch Grischun is used in official publications. The two forms are mutually intelligible to many readers and speakers, reflecting the dialectal roots of Vallader.

Vallader shares core Romance features with Romansh, including a Romance vocabulary and retention of certain older phonological traits. It also shows influence from Italian and Raeto-Romance contact in pronunciation and lexicon. While Romansh as a whole is officially recognized in Switzerland, Vallader remains a regional language with active use in culture, media, and education where local communities sustain it.

See also: Romansh language, Graubünden, Engadin.