International Romansh Language Week in Milan

20 February 2024

The fourth edition of the international Romansh Language Week (Emna rumantscha) at Milan’s Swiss Centre started on 19 February. The Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) runs this week in collaboration with the Canton of Graubünden and Lia Rumantscha.

The kick-off event – ‘From words to ideas: six Swiss and Italian regions in dialogue’ – focused on innovation and sustainability between Switzerland and northern Italy, with fashion featuring prominently given its concurrence with Milan Fashion Week.

Switzerland and Italy share not only three European languages (Italian, German and French) but also three Rhaeto-Romanic languages (Romansh, Ladin and Friulian). The two countries’ commitment to preserving this diversity is a source of innovation. It is the backdrop for the fourth Romansh Language Week at the Swiss Centre of Milan.

The Romansh Language Week is one of a series of events that emphasise the importance of multilingualism for national cohesion, as well as for Swiss foreign policy.

These events include the Multilingualism Days and the specific Italian (Settimana della lingua italiana nel mondo), French (Semaine de la francophonie ) and German (Woche der deutschen Sprache) language weeks. Switzerland’s linguistic diversity is indeed a characteristic of the country.

(Source and further information: www.admin.ch)