Cimbrian

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A language of Italy

ISO 639-3
cim
Alternate Names
Tzimbro, Zimbrisch
Population

2,230. 500 in Lusernese Cimbrian in Trentino Alto Oolige 40 km southeast from Trento, plus 1,500 Sette Comuni Cimbrian (40% of Roana (Rowan), 70% of Messaselva di Roana Rotzo) in Veneto around 60 km north of Vicenza (Kloss 1978), and 230 or 65% of Giazza (Ijetzan) Veneto, 43 km northeast of Verona (1992 R. Zamponi). 22,700 were in Sieben Gemeinde and 12,400 in Dreizehn Gemeinde in 1854.

Location

Veneto region: Vincenza province, Roana (Rabam) commune.

Language Status

6a (Vigorous).

Classification
Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, German, Upper German, Bavarian-Austrian
Dialects

Lusernese Cimbrian, Sette Comuni Cimbrian, Tredici Communi Cimbrian (Tauch). Based on structural and intelligibility differences, the 3 dialects could be considered separate languages. Lusernese Cimbrian is heavily influenced by Italian [ita]. Heavily influenced by Bajuwarisch dialects. Sometimes considered a dialect of South Bavarian [bar]. Different from Bavarian [bar], Walser [wae], and Mocheno [mhn].

Language Use

A number of children still learn Cimbrian in Luserna. Some presence in school and media. More active attempts to promote it in recent decades (Salminen 2007). Middle-aged or older in Sette, all ages in Luserna. Also use Venetian [vec] (Trentine). Also use Italian [ita], Standard German [deu].

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Cimbrian
Writing

Latin script [Latn].