Lombard language - Definition

The term Lombard (or Lombardic) language refers to a group of related dialects spoken in Southern Switzerland (Ticino and the Grisons) and Northern Italy (most of Lombardy and some areas of neighbouring regions). Lombard is a Western Romance language related to French, Romansh, Italian, etc. Although Italian is generally used as a written language in Lombard-speaking areas, Lombard is not mutually intelligible with Italian and the two languages belong to different branches of the Romance language family tree (respectively Western Romance and Italo-Dalmatian). Unlike most Romance languages, many Western Lombard dialects have vowel quantity oppositions, e.g. [pa:s] 'peace' vs. [pas] 'step', [tSa'pa:] 'taken m.' vs. [tSa'pa] 'to take'. The use of Lombard is usually stigmatized in the Lombard-speaking areas politically belonging to Italy, while it is generally not so in the Swiss areas, where Lombard is generally better preserved. Some radio and television programmes in Lombard are occasionally broadcast by the Swiss Italian-speaking broadcasting company. The major research institution working on Lombard dialects is located in Bellinzona, Switzerland (CDE - Centro di dialettologia e di etnografia, a governmental (cantonal) institution).

Sometimes the word "Lombard" is used referring to an actually not yet existent common language. It should also be noted that in some cases different Lombard varieties are not fully mutually intelligible.

A major distinction is usually made between Western and Eastern Lombard varieties.