Te Mali Prïncip — in Resian.
The Resian dialect, or Resian (Rezijan, Resijan), is a distinctive Slavic dialect spoken in the Resia Valley (Rezija, Resija) in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region of northeastern Italy. It is part of the Slovene language group but has been significantly influenced by the geographical isolation of the Resia Valley, leading to the development of unique linguistic features that differentiate it from standard Slovene and other Slovene dialects.
Resian possesses phonological, lexical, and some grammatical differences from Standard Slovene, including unique words and expressions, as well as variations in pronunciation. These differences have been preserved due to the valley’s isolation. There is no standardised writing system for Resian, and efforts to develop one have considered both its distinctiveness and its connections to the broader Slovene linguistic context. Even within the Resia Valley, there is variation among the dialects spoken in different villages, reflecting the valley’s complex linguistic landscape.
The Resian dialect is a vital element of local identity and culture in the Resia Valley. It is used in daily communication, local folklore, and cultural traditions. However, like many minority languages and dialects, Resian faces challenges related to language maintenance and transmission to younger generations.
