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Italy is a country renowned for its rich linguistic diversity. The official language of Italy is Italian (Italiano), which serves as the primary means of communication across the country. However, there are several regional languages and dialects spoken throughout Italy. The map of Italy below shows languages and dialects that developed over centuries and reflect the cultural and historical diversity of the various Italian regions.
Sicilian (Siciliano): Sicilian is one of the most prominent languages spoken in Italy, primarily in the region of Sicily. It has significant linguistic differences from standard Italian and is considered a distinct Romance language.
Venetian (Veneziano): Venetian is spoken in the Veneto region, including the city of Venice. It has its own unique grammar and vocabulary, and it is widely used in daily conversations.
Neapolitan (Napoletano): Neapolitan is spoken in the southern region of Campania, with Naples as its main hub. It has a large number of speakers and a vibrant literary tradition.
Lombard (Lombardo): Lombard is spoken in Lombardy and some parts of neighboring regions. It has several dialectal variations and is recognized as a distinct language with its own literature.
Piedmontese (Piemontese): Piedmontese is spoken in the Piedmont region, including the city of Turin. It is closely related to Occitan, a language spoken in southern France.
Sardinian (Sardo): Sardinian is the language of the island of Sardinia. It has multiple dialects and is the most conservative of the Romance languages, preserving many features of Latin.
Friulian (Friulano): Friulian is spoken in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region, in northeastern Italy. It is an officially recognized minority language and has a rich literary heritage.
Ligurian (Ligure): Ligurian is spoken in the region of Liguria, including the city of Genoa. It shares similarities with both French and Italian.
You can learn more about Italy from the following books:
