Intangible cultural heritage

Muntafunerisch is spoken and understood from Lorüns to Partenen, as well as in the Silbertal and Gargellen side valleys. This dialect joins Rhaeto-Romanic words as well as articulations of Walser origin with the dominant Lower Alemannic elements to form a single whole that has developed over centuries. These peculiarities have been cited by linguistics scholars as exemplary cases both of how specific phonemes develop and of the effects of linguistic contact. The dialect of Montafon is rooted most deeply in the activities that strongly characterize past and present everyday life in the region (such as agriculture, woodworking, householding, etc.). The Montafon dialect remains a central element of local identity and is used in everyday life. It is spoken in family settings, in school, at work, and at public functions, in the process being upheld and passed on from generation to generation. Some terms have—unavoidably—disappeared by now, since there is no present-day need for them. But in conversational settings and at afternoon storytelling sessions, readings, and other events, Muntafunerisch is consciously upheld and passed on. The ability to speak or at least understand the dialect is an important prerequisite for participation in local life, since it is strongly anchored in everyday activities.

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• Application form (in German only) 973 KB (pdf)
• Expertise Plangg (in German only) 2 MB (pdf)
• Expertise Geyer (in German only) 11 KB (pdf)