Die Mundart von Bosco Gurin

Abstract

Bosco Gurin, the highest village in the Swiss canton of Ticino, was settled before the first half of the thirteenth century from the Wallis. It is an independent community which has about 60-70 inhabitants. The Alemannic dialect spoken in the village, Gurinerdeutsch, has been investigated since the nineteenth century. The author has used these previous studies and collected more material in five in the village. This produced a monograph published in 2002. There are four main language varieties used in the village: High German, for parts of church services, notices and some administration; Italian, used for school and administration; Ticinese dialect, used with non-Guriner, and Gurinerdeutsch, which is used with other Guriner. Some examples are given of the vowel and consonant system. Then to illustrate the grammar of the dialects the plural formation and inflectional forms of the verb are used. The dialect of Bosco Gurin is a typical, isolated alpine dialect which is clearly of Wallis origin but which also shows its independence in many innovatory changes.