HISTORICAL AND SOCIAL ASPECTS OF THE USE OF THE VENETIAN DIALECT AND ITS PLACE IN THE LINGUISTIC PANORAMA OF MODERN ITALY

Abstract

The Venetian dialect is one of the Venetan dialects of northeastern Italy that is spoken in Venice and its province, as well as on the numerous islands in the Venetian lagoon. The article dwells on the peculiarities of its existence, diachronic and synchronic, and its social significance. An overview of the development of the Venetian dialect and its coexistence with the Latin and Italian languages throughout the history of the Venetian Republic proves its unique place among other Italian dialects. Its high social profile was defined by rich literary heritage, widespread use in a variety of professional fields, including public speaking and debate, presence of stylistic differentiation, the use in legal studies and documentation. In modern Italy the Veneto region is the place where dialects have remained commonly used by the majority of the population on all social levels throughout the years. In particular, the Venetian dialect is widely used in various communicative situations, largely present in the youth’s interactions, and social media. However, the peculiarities of the historical development of the Veneto region in the XIX-XX centuries determined the gradual geo-linguistic balance shift in the region in favor of dialects of major Italian cities - Padua, Treviso, Verona.