Walser (or Walscher) is a high-Alemannic language spoken in parts of Switzerland, Italy, Liechtenstein, and Austria. In German, Walser is the name of the people, while the language is called Walsertitsch.

The language is so called because it reportedly originated in the upper Wallis (Valais) Canton, in the uppermost Rhône River valley, from where it began to spread south, west and east between the 12th and 13th centuries. It is thought that the large Walser migrations took place because of conflicts with the valley's feudal lords. Walser (or Walscher, which is the self-designation) is thus a contraction of Walliser. The language is close but different from the Schwyzertütsch dialect spoken in the upper Wallis Canton (see Walliser). (The lower part of this canton is French-speaking, or more exactly Franco-Provençal; see Canton Valais.)

In Switzerland, it is currently spoken in 26 communities (and was formerly spoken in seven others). These are: Simplon, in Wallis Canton; Bosco Gurin, in Canton Ticino; and the following communities in Graubünden (Grisons): Obersaxen; Valsertal (Vals, St. Martin); Safiental (Valendas, Versam, Tenna, Safien); Rheinwald (Medels, Nufenen, Splügen, Sufers, Hinterrhein, Avers); Schanfigg (Arosa, Langwies); Albula (Mutten, Schmitten, Wiesen); Landquart (Davos, Klosters, Furna, Says, St. Antönien, Valzeina).

In Italy, it is currently spoken in nine communities (and was formerly spoken in four others). These are: Gressoney-La Trinité, Gressoney-Saint Jean, Issime, Gaby (Val Lesa or Lys Valley, in Aosta province); Formazza/Pomatt, Macugnaga (Verbano-Cusio-Ossola province); Alagna Valsesia, Rima San Giuseppe, Rimella (Sesia Valley or Valsesia, in Vercelli province). (The language is called Titsch in Gressoney-La Trinité, Gressoney-Saint Jean, Alagna Valsesia, Formazza/Pomatt, Macugnaga; Töitschu in Issime; Tittschu in Rimella.)

In Liechtenstein, it is spoken in one community: Triesenberg, including Saminatal and Malbun.

In Austria, it is spoken in 14 communities: Grosses Walsertal (Blons, Fontanella, Raggal, St. Gerold, Sonntag, Thüringerberg), Kleinwalsertal (Mittelberg), Brandnertal (Brand), Montafon (Silbertal), Reintal (Laterns), Tannberg (Schröcken, Lech, Warth), all in Vorarlberg; and in Paznauntal (Galtür), in Tyrol.

Some sources consider the entire Alemannic upper Wallis Canton as ethnically Walser, but, as noted above, the Walser language stricto sensu is different from the Alemannic Schwyzertütsch spoken in the upper Wallis Canton. In other words, the term Walser language applies exclusively to the Walliser diaspora out of the upper Wallis Canton. (The inclusion of Simplon, Wallis Canton, in the list of Walser-speaking communities in Switzerland is only apparently an exception, since Simplon is actually located on the southern [Italian] side of the Alpine watershed.)

Additionally, Walser communities are reportedly found in Haute-Savoie, France (Vallorcine, in Chablais) and in the Berner Oberland (or Bernese Highlands), Switzerland (Grimseljoch-Sustenpass), but it is not clear if these communities speak the same Walser language.

The total number of speakers in all countries is reported to be 20,000 to 40,000, including 10,000 to 20,000 speakers in Switzerland, out of a population of 21,900 (1980 C. Buchli), 3,400 in Italy (1978 Fazzini), 1,300 in Liechtenstein (1995 C. Buchli), and 5,000 to 10,000 in Austria (1995 C. Buchli). (Source: www.ethnologue.com)

Historically, the Walser are presumed to be descended from an Alemannic-speaking population that first settled the upper Wallis Canton, coming from the Berner Oberland, and then spread further in a number of directions, following high-mountain migration routes. The tribal nature of their society has led some to suggest that the Walser people are descended from a pre-Roman (Celtic?) tribe of Switzerland that, after resisting Romanization for centuries, was belatedly Germanized, linguistically if not necessarily ethnically. Nevertheless, despite the undeniable specificity of their Alpine culture, the Walser fully perceive themselves as closely allied to the other Alemannic-speaking groups.

External links

Ethnologue report for Walser (http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=WAE)

International Association of Walser (http://www.wir-walser.ch/english/)