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

ANMERKUNGEN ZUM PROJEKT WIEDERBELEBUNG DER WALSERSPRACHE
one could bring to life a South-Walser chronicle. The next story relates about a long-since
discontinued custom, the «heuziehen» (sliding hay down dale on sleighs), known in
Formazza and in many other Walser places. It was told by Remigio Anderlini in 1972.
Those who are learning the language could ask elders to tell them similar stories. All of these
different kinds of tales still generate a lot of interest in local people, both in family circles
and at the inn. Certainly the oral transmission of fascinating popular lore could become
the centre-piece of a revitalisation program. We come now to proverbs. They travel well. So,
for example, the Swiss proverb: «The wolf had not yet eaten any winter» has almost identical
renderings in Gressoney, Macugnaga and Rimella. It could be fascinating to trace back
such proverbs from South to North. One could draw comparisons also with Italian proverbs.
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