Ladin: Dolomites villages refuse to give up on ancient language
Summary
In the Dolomites mountain region of northern Italy, about 30,000 people speak Ladin, an ancient language unique to the area. Despite growing tourism and pressure to use Italian or German, local communities work to keep Ladin alive, including in schools and everyday life.Key Facts
- Ladin is spoken by around 30,000 people in five valleys in northern Italy’s Dolomites.
- It is one of Europe’s oldest minority languages and is mainly spoken by locals.
- The Dolomites have become a major tourist destination, with millions visiting yearly.
- Increasing tourism has raised living costs, causing concerns about locals being pushed out.
- Ladin is taught in nursery and primary schools alongside Italian and German.
- Locals often speak Ladin among themselves and switch to Italian or German only when needed.
- Autonomous regional laws support the use and teaching of Ladin.
- Some tourists do not know about the Ladin language and sometimes question its use.
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