VOL. LXVI.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 7 



FII. An Account of the Romansh Language. By Joseph Planta* F. R. S. 



p. 129. 



The Romansh language, is that now spolcen in the most mountainous parts of 

 the country of the Grisons, near the sources of the Rhine and the En. It 

 consists of 2 main dialects ; which, though partaking both of the above general 

 name, yet differ so widely as to constitute in a manner 2 distinct languages. 

 Books are printed in both of them ; and each, though it be universally under- 

 stood in its respective district, is yet subdivided into almost as many secondary 

 dialects as there are villages in which it is spoken ; wliich differ however but 

 little, except in the pronunciation. One of the main dialects, which is spoken 

 in the Engadine, a valley extending from the source of the En to the frontiers of 

 theTyrolese, is by the inhabitants called Ladin. It admits of some variation, 

 even in the books, according as they are printed either in the upper or the 

 lower part of this province. The other dialect, which is the language of the 

 Grey, or Upper League, is distinguished from the former by the name of 

 Cialover : and in the very centre, and most inaccessible parts of this latter dis- 

 trict, there are some villages situated in narrow vallies, called Rheinwald, Ce- 

 pina, &c. in which a 3d language is spoken, more similar to the German than 

 to either of the above idioms, though they are neither contiguous, nor have any 

 great intercourse with the parts where the German is used. 



It being impossible to form any idea of the origin and progress of a language, 

 without attending to the revolutions that may have contributed to its formation 

 and subsequent variations ; and this being particularly the case in the present 

 instance, where no series of documents is extant to guide'our researches ; Mr. 

 P. briefly recapitulates the principal events which may have affected the language 

 of the Grisons, as they are related by authors of approved veracity. 



Ambigatus, the first king of the Celtic Gaul on record, who about 400 years 

 before Christ, governed all the country situated between the Alps and the Pyre- 

 naean mountains, sent out 2 formidable armies under the command of 2 of his 

 nephews ; one of whom, named Segovisius, forced his way into the heart of 

 Germany : and the other, Bellovisius, having passed the Alps, penetrated into 

 Italy as far as the settlements of the Tuscans, which at that time extended over 

 the greatest part of the country now called Lombardy. These, and several other 

 swarms of invaders whom the successes of the former soon after attracted, having 

 totally subdued that country, built Milan, Verona, Brescia, and several other 

 considerable towns, and governed with such tyrannic sway, especially over the 

 nobility, whose riches they coveted and sought by every means to extort from 

 them, that most of the principal families, joining under the conduct of Rhaetus, 



* Now chief librarian of the British Museum. 



