Ladin language and culture

The inhabitants of Val Badia cherish their language, tradition and culture

The Ladin language is a Romance or Rhaeto-Romance language, which is spoken by about 30,000 native speakers. Having once been the prevalent language in the alpine area, today it is still spoken in Val Badia as well as in other valleys surrounding the Gruppo Sella alpenstock. Other areas in which the Ladin language is still in use are the Italian region Friuli as well as the Swiss Canton Grisons.

The Ladin language orignated under Roman rule and combines Rhaetian and Latin elements. Due to the isolation of Val Badia and its high mountain ranges, the Ladin language could survive up to the current century.

Once Ladin was mistakenly considered to be a dialect. Today, however, it has been acknowledged beside German and Italian, as third official language and is also taught in schools as compulsory subject. Also the population of Val Badia and Val Gardena is an acknowledged ethnic group and is supported in terms of preserving culture and language.

Would you like to learn some Ladin words?
> good morning = bon dí
> good night = bona nuet
> How are you? = co vala?
> What are you doing today? = ce fesa ncuei?