Why 45% of Italy Doesn't Speak "Italian"
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Did you know that only around 45% of Italians speak Standard Italian at home? The rest speak one of 30+ regional languages that existed long before Italy unified in the late 1800s. In this video, we explore why Italy has so many distinct languages, from Venetian and Neapolitan to Sardinian, Piedmontese, Sicilian and more. You’ll discover how Roman legions, Germanic invasions, Greek colonies, Arabic influence, the Byzantines, and centuries of political fragmentation shaped Italy’s linguistic map - comparing dialect differences and similarities.
TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Is Italian real? (yes, but...)
01:17 Language continuums
01:59 Why these languages exist
03:47 The Spezia-Rimni line
04:55 Romans, Ostrogoths and Byzantines
07:05 Nomad eSim
08:37 Ancient languages & foreign influences
10:50 A history of local rule
14:21 Historical Minority Languages
16:31 Regional languages today
18:39 How different are they?
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General Knowledge
I make videos about flags, countries, maps, history & geography in general!...