The dialects of Veneto: towards a common spelling

Abstract

In recent decades a general revaluation of dialects has occurred, both in the academic environment and outside. Especially at local and regional level, dialects are considered as part of the cultural heritage of the region. Real dialectal literature exists and this fact raises the issue of how dialect can be expressed in writing, since it is not codified, contrary to standard Italian language. The aim of this thesis is that of suggesting a common spelling of Veneto dialects, taking into consideration the suggestions made previously by other authors. Starting from a general presentation of Veneto dialects and from detection of its characteristic sounds, focusing on those which are problematic to transcribe, I will continue analysing the orthographies proposed over the years: the spelling proposed by Ruzante, Marin Sanudo, Carlo Goldoni, and Giuseppe Boerio, the Grafia Veneta Unitaria suggested by the Regional Council of Veneto in 1995, the alphabets adopted by some present-day authors who come from the Vicentino and the Paduan area, and the dictionaries written by four authors from Polesine, Belluno and Treviso. Then data gathered from some websites are presented, more specifically Michele Brunelli’s online grammar manual of Veneto, the spelling used to write articles in the magazine Quàtro Ciàcoe and in the journal Raixe Venete and the Grafia Veneta Riformata proposed by Paolo Pegoraro. After a critical analysis of these proposals, I present my suggestion of a common Veneto spelling and a way to spread it and have it adopted by people.