Mócheno language

Mócheno is an Upper German dialect spoken in three towns of the Fersina Valley (Italian: Valle del Fersina, German: Fersental), in Trentino, northeastern Italy.

Mócheno is related to Austro-Bavarian and is variously classified either as a Southern Bavarian dialect or a separate language of its own. Mócheno speakers reportedly partially understand Bavarian, Cimbrian, or Standard German, which argues for classifying it as a dialect. However, many essential differences in grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation, render it practically unintelligible for speakers of German or Austro-Bavarian, so it may be more justified to consider it a separate language.

As of 1992 Mócheno was spoken by 1,900 speakers, including 400 in Fierozzo (Florutz), 1,000 in Palù (Palai), and 460 in Frassilongo (Gereut). Ethnologue report for Mócheno

External links

• Ethnologue report for Mócheno