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Ethnologue: Languages of the World
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Ethnologue > Web version > Country index > Europe > Switzerland > Walser

Walser

A language of Switzerland

ISO 639-3: wae

Population  10,000 in Switzerland (2004). Population total all countries: 22,780. Ethnic population: 21,900 (1980 C. Buchli).
Region  Canton Ticino, Bosco-Gurin; Wallis, Simplon; Graubünden, Obersaxen, Valsertal (Vals, St. Martin), Safiental (Valendas, Versam, Tenna, Safien), Rheinwald (Medels, Nufenen, Splügen, Sufers, Hinterrhein, Avers), Schanfigg (Arosa, Langwies), Albula (Mutten, Schmitten, Wiesen), Landquart (Davos, Klosters, Furna, Says, St. Antönien, Valzeina). 26 communities in Switzerland, and 7 former ones. Also in Austria, Italy, Liechtenstein.
Language map  Liechtenstein and Switzerland
Alternate names   Walscher
Dialects  Similar to but different from Schwyzerdütsch [gsw] spoken in Wallis Canton in Switzerland. Different from Cimbrian [cim], Mocheno [mhn], or Bavarian [bar].
Classification  Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, German, Upper German, Alemannic

Also spoken in:

Austria

Language name   Walser
Population  8,080 in Austria (2000).
Region  Vorarlberg (Grosses Walsertal: Blons, Fontanella, Raggal, St. Gerold, Sonntag, Thüringerberg); Kleinwalsertal (Mittleberg); Brandnertal (Brand); Montafon (Silbertal); Reintal (Laterns); Tannberg (Schricken, Lech, Warth); Tirol: Paznauntal (Galtnr). 14 communities.
Alternate names  Walscher
 

Italy

Language name   Walser
Population  3,400 in Italy (Fazzini 1978).
Region  Valle d’Aosta: Val Lesa (Val del Lys) (Gressoney, Issime, Gaby); Piemonte: Valsesia (Alagna, Rima S. Giuseppe, Rimella), Novara: Valle Anzasca (Macugnaga); Val Formazza (Formazza, Pomatt). 9 communities.
Alternate names  Walscher
Language use  Religious services. All ages.
Comments  In Valle d’Aosta influenced by Franco-Provençal [frp] and Piemontese [pms]; elsewhere in Italy by Italian.
 

Liechtenstein

Language name   Walser
Population  1,300 in Liechtenstein (1995 C. Buchli).
Region  Triesenberg, including Saminatal and Malbun. 1 community.
Language map  Liechtenstein and Switzerland
Alternate names  Walscher