Languages of Italy
Sardinian Language
Region: Sardinia
Sardinian (Sardu) is a distinct Romance language spoken on the island of Sardinia. It is often regarded as the most conservative of the Romance languages, preserving many features of Latin that have been lost in other Romance varieties. Sardinian has official recognition but limited presence in formal institutions.
History and Classification
Sardinian developed from Latin with minimal external influence compared to mainland varieties. It is not mutually intelligible with Standard Italian and is classified separately within the Romance family. Sardinian has several dialects and has long been used in oral tradition, though it has a growing body of literature.
Examples
Logudorese (Central):
Non ddu poddo fagher, mi dispiachet.
Standard Italian: Non lo posso fare, mi dispiace.
English: I can't do it, I'm sorry.
Campidanese (Southern):
Ita naras? No ti intendo.
Standard Italian: Cosa dici? Non ti capisco.
English: What are you saying? I don't understand you.
Audio Samples
- Sardinian (Logudorese): Wikitongues: Speaking Sardinian (Logudorese)
- Sardinian (Campidanese): The Sound of Campidanese Sardinian
Audio Samples
- Sardinian (Logudorese): WIKITONGUES: Ricardo speaking Sardinian
- Sardinian (Logudorese): The Sound of the Sardinian Language
- Sardinian (Campidanese): WIKITONGUES: Lior Markus speaking Occidental Campidanese
- Sardinian (Campidanese): How does Sardinian Campidanese sound?
Current Status
Although Sardinian is spoken by a significant portion of the island’s population, intergenerational transmission is declining. Italian dominates in schools and media. There are regional efforts to promote Sardinian in education and public life, and written standards like Limba Sarda Comuna aim to support its preservation.