Corsican language and Gallurese (Sardinia): Common Roots, Shared Influence
Gallura, a region located in the northeast of Sardinia, and Corsica, the “sister island,” share deep linguistic and cultural ties. The Gallurese dialect, spoken mainly in Gallura, has many similarities with the Corsican language, due to a common history and frequent exchanges between the two islands.
Linguistic Origins, Historical and Cultural Exchanges
Gallurese and Corsican both belong to the Romance language group, derived from Latin. This common origin largely explains the linguistic similarities observed between the two dialects. Gallurese’s vocabulary, phonetics, and grammar show many resemblances to those of Corsican, especially in its southern variant known as “Corsu Pumuntincu,” in contrast to the northern “Corsu Cismontincu” (however, there are many more specificities!).
Exchanges between Corsica and Gallura date back several centuries, facilitated by the geographical proximity of the two regions. Although very diverse influences have marked the history of the two islands, the inhabitants of Corsica and Gallura have maintained commercial and cultural relations that have contributed to the mutual influence of their respective languages. Mixed marriages, migrations, and economic exchanges have strengthened these linguistic and cultural ties.
Gallurese: A Corsican Dialect?
Some linguists consider Gallurese to be a variety of Corsican due to their striking similarities. However, Gallurese has also been influenced by other Sardinian dialects, making it a language in its own right with its particularities. The recognition of this linguistic proximity testifies to the intense cultural exchanges between the two regions.
This Corsican-Sardinian diasystem has a vocabulary that is 80% common with Corsican, resulting from significant Corsican immigration in the 15th century. It resembles the “rucchisgiana” variety of the Corsican language, or “Sartenais,” spoken in the vicinity of Sartène. The first written traces date back to the 18th century (in the form of poetry). – Source : https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gallurais
Preservation and Evolution
The Corsican language and Gallurese continue to evolve and be preserved thanks to the efforts of local communities. In Corsica, initiatives such as bilingual schools help to maintain the vitality of the language. In Gallura, although Gallurese is not an official language, it is still spoken in homes and taught to younger generations to preserve this linguistic heritage. With approximately 100,000 active speakers of Gallurese, it could almost be considered that Corsican is spoken more in Sardinia. Note that in 2016, a cooperation protocol on the promotion of the languages and cultures of Corsica and Gallura was concluded between Gilles Simeoni (President of the Executive Council of Corsica) and Agostino Piredda (President of the municipalities of Alta Gallura).
Gallurese and Corsican are living testimonies of the close ties between Corsica and Gallura. Their common origin, parallel evolution, and continuous cultural exchanges have shaped these dialects into rich and distinct languages. The preservation of these languages is essential to maintaining the cultural and linguistic diversity of the Mediterranean region.
