WALSERSPRACHE - The four main objectives of the Alpine Space ...

Nicolas Viquéry
all diese Unternehmungen zeugen von großer Lebendigkeit
die Lage ist dennoch sehr kritisch und das Fortbestehen des
Walserdialektes stark bedroht
Hoffnung auf Erfolg besteht nur dann, wenn das Bewusstsein der jüngeren
Generation gestärkt wird
starker Einfluss vom Italienischen (Kindergarten früher und heute).
Ich fordere also alle Anwesenden auf, das Vorhaben der
Walsergemeinschaft Greschoney und Eischeme so gut wie möglich zu
unterstützen. Danke!
On behalf of the Walser community of Gressoney I would like to talk to you about the
initiatives we have taken in the upper Lys Valley to preserve and foster the language of the
Walsers. To accurately grasp the role that Töitschu, Titsch and High German have in the
Walser communities it would be expedient to see which role these languages play in the
various institutions. I start right away with the Walser Cultural Centre, the main institution
for the Walser community. History and articulation of the Walser Cultural Centre. It
was established in 1982 by some 20 founding fathers. The main reason for it was the
decline of the dialect. Today’s membership is approximately 200. Every three years the
general assembly elects the board of directors. It gathers representatives from the three
communities, from the government of the Aosta Region and from the Augusta association.
From among them will be chosen the chairperson, the deputy chair, the secretary,
the treasurer and the certified accountant. Among the various duties and chores: running
the Walser library, publishing books, dealing with book dealers from Switzerland,
take care of relationships with schools and institutions, collect proverbs. Cooperation at
setting up various exhibitions. Cooperation with the interregional project IIIB Walser Alps.
Cooperation with the project “Pax Linguis”, subsidised by the EU. Publishing CDs to teach
Walser culture in the schools of the Aosta valley. Teaching Titsch and Töitschu: 30 hours,
one and a half hours per weeks for 20 weeks. Staff: native teachers. One single level.
Composition of a teaching hour: tests, grammar, vocabulary, proverbs and expressions.
To attend: an interest in dialects, better acceptance by the local communities. Acquisition
of enough grammar and words to be able to carry on an everyday conversation. High
German courses: 30 hours, one and a half hours per week for 20 weeks. Staff: one female
native teacher. Three levels. Composition of a teaching hour: tests, grammar, vocabulary,
songs. Goals: acquisition of grammatical and word competence to be able to carry on an
everyday conversation and to write and read short texts. School: steady German classes,
a few hours of Titsch, Cerlogne Competition, children limericks, revival of old traditions,
schoolmates exchanges. Church: various services in various languages. Political initiatives.
Financial help from the Region. Tabling in the regional and national Parliaments
of bills to foster and protect Walser culture. Looking after the implementation of Bill 482
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