Changes in the self‐reported frequency of use of the Fiuman dialect: Implications for language maintenance

Abstract

This paper reports the results of a study that investigates changes in the self-reported frequency of use of the Fiuman dialect, a regional minority Romance language spoken in the Croatian city of Rijeka and its surroundings, with respect to its hearing, speaking, reading, and writing both in the present and the past. The data was collected by means of a questionnaire containing closed and open-ended questions administered to 244 Fiuman speakers, between the ages of 14 and 89 years old. The results show a decrease in the spoken use of Fiuman today in comparison to the past, but also an increase in its written use, among younger speakers. The participants list numerous reasons for the decrease in spoken use, the main ones being related to a reduction in the number of Fiuman speakers and demographic changes in the city. The increase in written use relates primarily to communication on social networks, in text messaging and via e-mail, as well as to communication at work. The results point to the importance of modern technology and the new media for the maintenance of minority languages.