Walser

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A language of Switzerland

Graubünden canton: Albula, Hinterrhein, Plessur, Prattigau-Davos, and Surselva districts; Ticino canton: Bosco-Gurin; Valais canton: Simplon; 26 communities.

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Austria

Language NameWalser

User Population

8,080 in Austria (2000).

Location

Tyrol state: Paznauntal area, Brandnertal, Galtur, Lech, Reintal, Schricken, Silbertal, and Warth; Vorarlberg state: Grosses Walsertal, Kleinwalsertal, Tannberg areas.

Alternate Names

Walscher

Language Status

6b* (Threatened).

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Italy

Language NameWalser

User Population

3,400 in Italy (Fazzini Giovannucci 1978).

Location

Valle d’Aosta region: Val Lesa (Val del Lys) (Gressoney, Issime, Gaby); Piedmont region: Valsesia (Alagna, Rima S. Giuseppe, Rimella); Novara, Valle Anzasca (Macugnaga); Val Formazza (Formazza, Pomatt). 10 communities.

Alternate Names

Walscher

Dialects

Töitschu, Titsch.

Language Status

7 (Shifting).

Language Use

Religious services. Adults only. The parent generation may or may not speak the Walser dialects, but it does not appear that they are passing it to their children if they do (Dal Negro 2014). Shifting to Italian [ita]. Also use Piedmontese [pms].

Other Comments

In Valle d’Aosta influenced by Arpitan [frp] and Piedmontese [pms]; elsewhere in Italy by Italian [ita].

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Liechtenstein

Language NameWalser

User Population

1,300 in Liechtenstein (1995 C. Buchli).

Location

Triesenberg Commune, including Saminatal and Malbun enclaves; otherwise, scattered in southeast.

Alternate Names

Walscher

Language Status

6b (Threatened).

Language Use

Some young people, all adults.

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Walser

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A language of Switzerland

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