An intangible cultural asset on the UNESCO World Heritage List
The Montafon dialect is a special feature among the Austrian dialects. Muntafunerisch is spoken from St. Anton to Partenen.
"Many place and mountain names such as Schruns, Gortipohl or Piz Buin originate from Rhaeto-Romanic," explains Michael Kasper. Terms such as Quatterpätsch (salamander) and Mormenta (marmot) are also included.
In the late Middle Ages, Rhaeto-Romanic was replaced by Alemannic, partly due to the immigration of the Walser people. However, around 200 old words, idioms and grammatical peculiarities have survived - as has the broad sound inventory with only a few diphthongs (double vowels such as ai, äu etc.).
The farmers’ rules shape everyday life for the valley’s inhabitants
For centuries, people in the Montafon have been observing the weather, fauna and flora in order to make predictions. Today, weather forecasts are more precise, but a look at Manfred Dönz's book " Spröch und Spröchli osm Muntafu" is still worthwhile - not least because of the peculiarities of the Montafon dialect, especially when the seasons change.
Meteorology in Muntafunerisch (the Montafon dialect)
Mutafunerisch
English
Tribts vôm Veltli, lôns Heu nu si, triabts gega Hal, mötam Heu of a Stall.
If the wind comes from the south, leave the hay lying, if it blows from the east, it has to go in the stall.
Ds Kapäll hôt an Huat, mara ischts Wätter guat.
The chapel (on Hochjoch) has a hat of fog, so the weather will be good tomorrow.
Lôsna, dr Schütvôgl rüaft nôch Räga.
Listen, the finch is calling for rain.
Katz fressat Gras, z'Wätter tuat om.
The cat eats grass, the weather changes.
Spôt Jôhr, grôt Jôhr.
Later spring usually gives good harvests
Preserving and developing the dialect
"Embedded in the Vorarlberg Alemannic-Swabian dialect landscape, our dialect is characterized by the preservation of so-called relict words"
Michael Kasper, former director of the Montafon museums
The EU-LEADER project Muntafunerisch of the Montafon Museums gives locals the opportunity to actively cultivate the dialect. A digital database with over 2,500 words - some with audio files - serves as a basis for scientific work and language teaching.
Exhibitions, readings, poetry slams, music events and language walks are intended to raise awareness of the project. The aim is clear: to preserve and develop the Montafon language tradition.
The Montafon is characterized by many special features: the nature with its three impressive mountain ranges, the unique cultural landscape, but also by the unique dialect of its inhabitants.
