View source for Mòcheno language

{{Expand German|Fersentalerisch}}
{{Short description|Upper German variety of Italy}}
{{Infobox language
|name=Mòcheno
|nativename=''Bersntolerisch'', ''Bersntoler sproch''
|states= [[Italy]]
|region= Bersntol
|speakers=1,900<!--if you update to the 2011 figure, you need to provide a reference, or your edit will be deleted-->
|date=1992
|ref=e23
|familycolor=Indo-European
|fam2=[[Germanic languages|Germanic]]
|fam3=[[West Germanic languages|West Germanic]]
|fam4=[[Elbe Germanic]]
|fam5=[[High German languages|High German]]
|fam6=[[Upper German]]
|fam7=[[Bavarian language|Bavarian]]
|iso3=mhn
|glotto=moch1255
|glottorefname=Mócheno
}}
[[File:Language distribution Trentino 2011.png|thumb|<div style="background-color:#40C040;width:15px;height:15px;float:left;"></div>&nbsp;Mòcheno communities in Trentino]]
'''Mòcheno''' ({{IPA|it|ˈmɔːkeno}}; {{langx|de|Fersentalerisch}}; {{langx|bar|Bersntolerisch}}) is an [[Upper German]] variety spoken in three towns of the [[Bersntol]] ({{langx|de|Fersental}}; {{langx|it|Valle del Fersina}}), in [[Trentino]], northeastern [[Italy]].

Mòcheno is closely related to [[Bavarian language|Bavarian]] and is variously classified either as a Southern Bavarian [[variety (linguistics)|variety]] or a separate language of its own. It has also been posited that it may be descended from [[Lombardic language|Lombardic]] (with influence from nearby dialects). Mòcheno speakers reportedly partially understand Bavarian, [[Cimbrian]], or [[Standard German]]. However, many essential differences in grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation render it difficult for speakers of Standard German to understand.

== Name ==
The name ''Mòcheni'' used by bilingual [[Italian language|Italian]]- and [[Ladin language|Ladin]]-speaking neighbours to refer to the speakers of the language has been coined from the verb ''[[wikt:mòchen|mòchen]]'' "to make", often used to build compound predicates in the language.<ref>Ignaz Grandi, a letter to the editor of [[Tageszeitung Dolomiten]] from Sept.&nbsp;29th, 1981</ref>

== Geographic distribution ==
According to the census of 2001, the first in which data on native languages were recorded, Mòcheno was spoken by a majority in the following municipalities (numbers of members of the Mòcheno linguistic group): [[Fierozzo]]/Florutz/Vlarotz (423 people, 95.92%), [[Palù del Fersina|Palù]]/Palai/Palae (184 people, 95.34%), [[Frassilongo]]/Gereut/Garait (340 people, 95.24%, including the village of Roveda/Eichleit/Oachlait). In other [[municipalities of Trentino]] 1,329 persons declared themselves members of the Mòcheno linguistic group, a total of 2,276 in Trentino.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.minoranzelinguistiche.provincia.tn.it/binary/pat_minoranze/minoranze/ladini_mocheni_cimbri_pop_2001_x_comune_e_residenza.1205943234.pdf |title=Tav. I.5 - Appartenenza alla popolazione di lingua ladina, mochena e cimbra, per comune di area di residenza (Censimento 2001) |year=2007 |work=Annuario Statistico 2006 |publisher=Autonomous Province of Trento |language=it |access-date=2011-05-12}}</ref> In the 2011 census, the total number of speakers in the Province decreased to 1,660.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.statistica.provincia.tn.it/binary/pat_statistica/demografia/15CensGenPopolazione.1340956277.pdf |title=Census Statistica |access-date=2012-10-24 |archive-date=2021-01-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107104635/http://www.statistica.provincia.tn.it/binary/pat_statistica/demografia/15CensGenPopolazione.1340956277.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

== Status ==
Mòcheno is officially recognised in Trentino by provincial and national law. Starting in the 1990s, various laws and regulations have been passed by the Italian parliament and provincial assembly that put the Mòcheno language and culture under protection. A cultural institute was founded by decree, whose purpose is to safeguard and raise  awareness of the language. School curricula were adapted in order to teach in Mòcheno, and Italian street signs are being changed to bilingual Mòcheno/Italian.

== Sample text ==
{| class="wikitable"
! Mòcheno
! German
! English
|-
|
Vatar ingar<br />
en Himbl,<br />
gahailegt kimmp der dai Núm.<br />
der dai Raich schellt kemmen.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Vaterunser_zimbrisch.JPG |title=Das Vaterunser auf Mòchenisch (Fersentalerisch) |year=2006 |publisher=Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung |language=Mòcheno <!-- Mocheno language and its code are unsupported by MediaWiki, causes [[Category:CS1 maint: unrecognized language]] -->|access-date=2011-05-13}}</ref><br />
|
Vater unser<br />
im Himmel,<br />
geheiligt werde Dein Name.<br />
Dein Reich komme.
|
Our Father<br />
in heaven,<br />
hallowed be Thy name.<br />
Thy kingdom come.
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

== Further reading ==
;Grammar
*Anthony Rowley: ''Liacht as de sproch. Grammatica della lingua mòchena / Grammatik des Deutsch-Fersentalerischen.'' Istituto Culturale Mòcheno-Cimbro / Kulturinstitut für das Fersental und Lusern / Kulturinstitut Bersntol-Lusérn, Palù del Fèrsina (Trento) 2003, {{ISBN|88-900656-1-3}} (Digitalisat: [http://www.bersntol.it/docs/download.asp?ID=10 PDF])

;Dictionary
*Anthony Rowley: ''Fersentaler Wörterbuch. Wörterverzeichnis der deutschen Sprachinselmundart des Fersentals in der Provinz Trient/Oberitalien''. Buske, Hamburg 1989 (= Bayreuther Beiträge zur Sprachwissenschaft, Dialektologie, 2), {{ISBN|3-87118-593-0}}

;Secondary literature
* Cognola, Federica: ''Costruzioni infinitivali e fenomeni di trasparenza nel dialetto della Valle del Fèrsina'' In: Quaderni patavini di linguistica 22 (2006), pg. 3-48
* Křížek, Ondřej: ''[https://kulturnistudia.cz/german-speaking-groups-in-italy/ German-speaking groups in Italy.]'' Kulturní studia / Cultural Studies 2/2017, p. 27-55, {{doi|10.7160/ks.2017.090202}}
* Mirtes, Hans: ''Das Ferstental und die Fersentaler. Zur Geographie, Geschichte und Volkskunde einer deutschen Sprachinsel im Trentino/Norditalien.'' Institute für Geographie, Regensburg 1996 (= Regensburger geographische Schriften, Heft 26)
* Pellegrini, Giovanni Battista (ed.): ''La Valle del Fèrsina e le isole linguistiche di origine tedesca nel Trentino: Atti del convegno interdisciplinare, Sant'Orsola (Trento), 1 - 3 settembre 1978.'' Museo degli usi e costumi della gente trentina, S. Michele all'Adige 1979
* Rowley, Anthony: ''"Mocheno e Cimbro". Von Dialekt(en) zu Sprache(n)?'' In: Dieter Stellmacher (ed.), ''Dialektologie zwischen Tradition und Neuansätzen: Beiträge der Internationalen Dialektologentagung, Göttingen, 19. - 21. Oktober 1998'', Steiner, Stuttgart 2000 (= Zeitschrift für Dialektologie und Linguistik, Beiheft 109), pg. 213-221, {{ISBN|3-515-07762-6}}
* Rowley, Anthony: ''Die Mundarten des Fersentals.'' In: Maria Hornung (ed.), ''Die deutschen Sprachinseln in den Südalpen. Mundarten und Volkstum'', Olms, Hildesheim / Zürich / New York, 1994 (= Studien zur Dialektologie, 3; Germanistische Linguistik, 124/125), pg. 145-160, {{ISBN|3-487-09957-8}}
* Rowley, Anthony: ''Die Sprachinseln der Fersentaler und Zimbern.'' In: Robert Hinderling / Ludwig M. Eichinger (ed.): ''Handbuch der mitteleuropäischen Sprachminderheiten'', Narr, Tübingen 1996, pg. 263-285, {{ISBN|3-8233-5255-5}}
* Rowley, Anthony: ''Fersental (Val Fèrsina bei Trient/Oberitalien) - Untersuchung einer Sprachinselmundart.'' Niemeryer, Tübingen 1986 (= Phonai. Lautbibliothek der deutschen Sprachen und Mundarten, Deutsche Reihe, Bd. 28; Monographien, Bd. 18), {{ISBN|3-484-23131-9}}
* Wurzer, Bernhard: ''Die deutschen Sprachinseln in Oberitalien.'' 5. erw. Aufl., Athesia, Bozen 1983, {{ISBN|88-7014-269-8}}

== External links ==
{{commons category-inline|Mòcheno language}}
* [http://www.bersntol.it/ Homepage of the Bernstoler Kulturinstitut]
* [https://www.calameo.com/read/00448072345a29c736252 Cimbrian Ladin Mocheno - Getting To Know 3 Peoples]

{{Languages of Italy}}
{{Germanic languages}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mocheno Language}}
[[Category:Bavarian language]]
[[Category:German dialects]]
[[Category:Languages of Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol]]