The Friulians
Friulan is a Rhaeto-Romance language spoken by approximately 700,000 people in Northeastern Italy. The majority of Friulians live in the region of Friuli-Venezia-Giulia and in some areas of the Veneto region.
The first documents in the Friulian language date back to the 13th century. While the majority of the population of the Friuli region once spoke Friulan, Venetian and Italian rule led to the establishment of the Venetian dialect, and later of Italian, as the primary language.
Since the 1950s, there has been increased interest in the protection and promotion of the Friulian language and culture. Today, Friulan is officially recognized as a minority language on the national, regional and European level. Regional laws further regulate the use and protection of the language. Friulan can thus be used in municipal, provincial and regional offices and on place signs. Moreover, the language may be taught in schools.
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