Mentonasc dialect


Mentonasc is a Romance dialect historically spoken in and around Menton, France. It is classified as a dialect of Occitan and a sub-dialect of Vivaro-Alpine, with some strong influence from the neighbouring Intemelian Ligurian dialect spoken from Ventimiglia to San Remo.

Classification

Mentonasc is considered to be a transitional language; it is an intermediate language between Occitan and Ligurian, which is why the classification of Mentonasc is often debated. However, it is traditionally assigned to the Occitan language by french scholars and to Ligurian dialects by Italian scholars.
The Mentonasc dialect bears strong similarities with the common alpine dialects, such as, Royasque or Pignasque. It differs quite significantly especially in the ear from Ligurian coastal dialects, like those of Ventimiglia or Monaco.

History

When the area of Menton was part of the Republic of Genoa and later of the Kingdom of Sardinia, Mentonasc was used in all of the coastal area between Monaco and Ventimiglia, and in the hinterland.
In the 19th century Mentonasc was used in the territories of the Free Cities of Menton & Roquebrune, an independent statelet created in connection with the Italian Risorgimento.
When France annexed the Free Cities in 1861, Mentonasc began its decline, substituted by the French language.

Geographic distribution

The Mentonasc dialect is currently spoken by about 10% of the population in Menton, Roquebrune, and the surrounding villages. Now the language is being taught within the French educational system, as a variety of Niçard, so this may change.

Official status

No countries currently have Mentonasc as an official language.

Vocabulary/Lexis

Below is a chart of some nouns and verbs found in French, translated into Mentonasc.
FrenchMentonasc
accôtementbor dou camen, riba
accouchementpart
accoucherpartouri
accoucheusebaila, couchusa, coumà
accouderacoudâ, pountelâ
accoudoirbras
accouplementacoubiament
accoupleracoubiâ
accourirveni vitou
accoutrergimbrâ, arnesca
accoutumeracousturiâ, abituâ
accrediteracreditâ
accrocset, sgarahura :sgarran
accrocheracrouchâ, pendè, aganità
accroissementcreishament
accroitrecreishe
accroupiracougounâ, cougounà
accueilacueilh
accueilliraculhi
acculeraculà
accumulateuracumulatoù
accumulationamourounament, acumulacian
accumuleramourounà, acumulà
accuseracusà
acerbepougnent, aspre
acerépounchû
achalanderashalandà
acharnementacharnament
acharnerencagnâ, acharnâ
achatacat, coumpra
acheminerencaminà, stradâ, adraiâ, enstradà
acheteracatà, catà
acheverfeni
acideaigre âchidou
aciditéaigrou, aigrura, achidità
acolytecoumpars
acompteacuenti
acoquiners’acouquinà
acoustiqueacoustica, acousticou
acquérircatâ, aquistà
acquisitionaquîst
acquitteraquitâ, pagà
âcreàsperou
acrobateacroubat
acropoleacroupolà
acteatou
acteur atoû, atrisse
actifativou
actionassian
actionnerassiounâ
activitéatività
actualitéatualitâ

Literature

There are some texts and songs that have been published recently in Menton
Among the various publications: A Lambrusca de Paigran by Jean-Louis Caserio, illustrations by M. and F. Guglielmelli, SAHM, Menton, 1987. Brandi Mentounasc, Livret de Poésies Bilingue by Jean Ansaldi, 2010. Ou Mentounasc per ou Bachelerà, le Mentonasque au Baccalauréat, by JL Caserio, 5th edition, 2008., etc.

Examples

Video of the National Anthem of Menton being sung in Mentonasc