Mentonasque
Encyclopedia
Mentonasc is a transition dialect historically in and around Menton
, France. It is generally classified as Occitan, with some strong features from the neighbouring Intemelian Ligurian
dialect spoken from Monaco
to San Remo
.
In the Archivio Glottologico Italiano XII, 1890/92, pp. 97–106 John Bruyn Andrews wrote that the dialect of Menton is in the middle between the Ligurian and Provençal dialects.
and later of the Kingdom of Sardinia, the Mentonasc was used in all the coastal area between Monaco and Ventimiglia
. It was a local version of the historical intemelio
, a medieval western ligurian dialect.
In the 19th century the Mentonasc was used in the territories of the Free cities of Menton & Roquebrune, an independent little State created in connection with the Italian Risorgimento.
When France
annexed all the county of Nice in 1860, Mentonasc started to disappear, substituted by the French language
and the Occitan dialect of French immigrants from Provence. It is still spoken by a minority (approximately 10%) in the city of Menton
and in the following municipalities: Roquebrune-Cap-Martin
, Castellar
, Castillon
, Gorbio
, Sainte-Agnès
and Sospel
, near the border with Italy. Isolated communities of Nizzardo Italians
still use the Mentonasc.
Furthermore, since the inclusion of the County of Nice in France
in 1860, the Mentonasc has been influenced by the French language and it is nearly extinct.
Menton
Menton is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.Situated on the French Riviera, along the Franco-Italian border, it is nicknamed la perle de la France ....
, France. It is generally classified as Occitan, with some strong features from the neighbouring Intemelian Ligurian
Ligurian language (Romance)
Ligurian is a Gallo-Romance language spoken in Liguria in Northern Italy, parts of the Mediterranean coastal zone of France, Monaco and in the villages of Carloforte and Calasetta in Sardinia. Genoese , spoken in Genoa, the capital of Liguria, is its most important dialect...
dialect spoken from Monaco
Monaco
Monaco , officially the Principality of Monaco , is a sovereign city state on the French Riviera. It is bordered on three sides by its neighbour, France, and its centre is about from Italy. Its area is with a population of 35,986 as of 2011 and is the most densely populated country in the...
to San Remo
Sanremo
Sanremo or San Remo is a city with about 57,000 inhabitants on the Mediterranean coast of western Liguria in north-western Italy. Founded in Roman times, the city is best known as a tourist destination on the Italian Riviera. It hosts numerous cultural events, such as the Sanremo Music Festival...
.
Characteristics
The Mentonasc shows some transition features to the Ligurian language, but is traditionally assigned to the Occitan language (Provençal Niçard dialect).In the Archivio Glottologico Italiano XII, 1890/92, pp. 97–106 John Bruyn Andrews wrote that the dialect of Menton is in the middle between the Ligurian and Provençal dialects.
Area of use
When the area of Menton was part of the Republic of GenoaRepublic of Genoa
The Most Serene Republic of Genoa |Ligurian]]: Repúbrica de Zêna) was an independent state from 1005 to 1797 in Liguria on the northwestern Italian coast, as well as Corsica from 1347 to 1768, and numerous other territories throughout the Mediterranean....
and later of the Kingdom of Sardinia, the Mentonasc was used in all the coastal area between Monaco and Ventimiglia
Ventimiglia
Ventimiglia is a city and comune in Liguria, northern Italy, in the province of Imperia. It is located southwest of Genoa by rail, and 7 km from the French-Italian border, on the Gulf of Genoa, having a small harbour at the mouth of the Roia River, which divides the town into two parts...
. It was a local version of the historical intemelio
Intemelio
Intemelio is a Ligurian dialect spoken historically from the Principality of Monaco to the Italian province of Imperia.-History:Since before the Renaissance the Ligurian language was spoken in all the territories of the Republic of Genoa : in the western area of this republic one of its groups was...
, a medieval western ligurian dialect.
In the 19th century the Mentonasc was used in the territories of the Free cities of Menton & Roquebrune, an independent little State created in connection with the Italian Risorgimento.
When France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
annexed all the county of Nice in 1860, Mentonasc started to disappear, substituted by the French language
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
and the Occitan dialect of French immigrants from Provence. It is still spoken by a minority (approximately 10%) in the city of Menton
Menton
Menton is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.Situated on the French Riviera, along the Franco-Italian border, it is nicknamed la perle de la France ....
and in the following municipalities: Roquebrune-Cap-Martin
Roquebrune-Cap-Martin
Roquebrune-Cap-Martin is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department in southeastern France between Monaco and Menton. The name was changed from Roquebrune to differentiate the town from Roquebrune-sur-Argens in the neighboring Var Department.-History:In pre-Roman times the area was settled by the...
, Castellar
Castellar, Alpes-Maritimes
Castellar is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department in southeastern France.-Population:-References:*...
, Castillon
Castillon, Alpes-Maritimes
Castillon is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department in southeastern France.-References:*...
, Gorbio
Gorbio
Gorbio is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department in southeastern France.-References:*...
, Sainte-Agnès
Sainte-Agnès, Alpes-Maritimes
Sainte-Agnès is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department in southeastern France.It is the highest coastal village in Europe, at 750m and one of the most beautiful villages in the Alpes-Maritimes....
and Sospel
Sospel
Sospel is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department in southeastern France near the Italian border and not far from Monte Carlo.-History:...
, near the border with Italy. Isolated communities of Nizzardo Italians
Nizzardo Italians
Italian irredentism in Nice was the political movement supporting the annexation of Nice to the Kingdom of Italy. The term was coined by Italian Irredentists who sought the unification of all Italian peoples within the Kingdom of Italy. Italian and Ligurian speaking populations of the County of...
still use the Mentonasc.
Furthermore, since the inclusion of the County of Nice in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
in 1860, the Mentonasc has been influenced by the French language and it is nearly extinct.
See also
- Ligurian language (Romance)Ligurian language (Romance)Ligurian is a Gallo-Romance language spoken in Liguria in Northern Italy, parts of the Mediterranean coastal zone of France, Monaco and in the villages of Carloforte and Calasetta in Sardinia. Genoese , spoken in Genoa, the capital of Liguria, is its most important dialect...
- IntemelioIntemelioIntemelio is a Ligurian dialect spoken historically from the Principality of Monaco to the Italian province of Imperia.-History:Since before the Renaissance the Ligurian language was spoken in all the territories of the Republic of Genoa : in the western area of this republic one of its groups was...
- Nizzardo ItaliansNizzardo ItaliansItalian irredentism in Nice was the political movement supporting the annexation of Nice to the Kingdom of Italy. The term was coined by Italian Irredentists who sought the unification of all Italian peoples within the Kingdom of Italy. Italian and Ligurian speaking populations of the County of...
- MentonMentonMenton is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.Situated on the French Riviera, along the Franco-Italian border, it is nicknamed la perle de la France ....
- monegasqueMonégasque languageMonégasque is a dialect of the modern Ligurian language, spoken in Monaco.- Language family :Forming a part of the Western Romance dialect continuum, Monégasque shares many features with the variety of Ligurian spoken in Genoa, but differs from its neighboring dialects Intemelio and Mentonasc. It...