| Population |
281,000 in Corsica (1993 Johnstone). Population total all countries 341,000 or more (1976). |
| Region |
Corsica, Paris, Marseilles. Also spoken in Bolivia, Canada, Cuba, Italy, Puerto Rico, Uruguay, USA, Venezuela. |
| Alternate names |
CORSU, CORSO, CORSE, CORSI |
| Dialects |
SARTENAIS, VICO-AJACCIO, NORTHERN CORSICAN (CAPE CORS, BASTIA), VENACO. |
| Classification |
Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Southern, Corsican. |
| Comments |
Corsican is in the Tuscan group of Italian varieties. Southern Corsican is closer to northern Sardinian or Gallurese than other Corsican dialects (R. A. Hall, Jr.) Dialects of Bastia, Venaco, Vico, and Sartene have 79% to 89% lexical similarity. Bonifacio on the southern tip of the island has 78% lexical similarity (highest) with Bastia at extreme north. Ajaccio dialect is central and prestigious. Speakers are bilingual in French but many are not fluent in it. There is a movement for bilingual education. Corsican has been recognized as a separate language by the French government. Not endangered. Bible portions 1861-1994. |
