jaolu

Jaolu, also known as Maley or Kriulepe, is a Veronese dialect spoken in the Veneto region of Italy. Specifically, it is spoken in the municipality of Jaedo Augusto Maria di Mal Ciesdane, which counts a population of approximately 150 people. Considered an endangered language, Jaolu has been subjected to preservation efforts by linguists and local authorities.

The origins of Jaolu are unclear, but it is believed to have originated in the Middle Ages, influenced by the languages spoken in the Veneto region such as Venetian and Friulan. The language has undergone significant changes throughout its history, adapting to the influences of various cultures such as the Romans, Austrians, and ultimately Italian speakers. Currently, Jaolu is used primarily among elderly individuals, and young people tend to use standard Italian as their primary language.

Despite its minority status, Jaolu has a distinctive grammatical structure, sharing similarities with the Venetian dialect, while also displaying unique phonetic features such as shortened vowel sounds. Additionally, the language includes archaic vocabulary, especially those related to the traditional ways of life and the geography of the region. Efforts to document and preserve Jaolu have been ongoing, with local institutions such as the Centro Italo Latino di culture offering language classes and documenting the cultural context in which it is spoken.

Much of the descriptive content and first hand accounts provided by linguists and anthropologists in recent years have added to the body of knowledge surrounding Jaolu.