Changes

The Vallegrande Speak evolved in the 18th century and the first half of the 19th century. Vela Luka's early beginnings, from the late 17th century, started with the population of the neighbouring Blato <ref>In Croatian blato means ''mud'' it also has been said the word is related to ''water'' referring to the once lake in neighbouring field</ref> setting up a town in the large bay of Vallegrande (modern: Vela Luka). Zvonko Maričić states in the late 1500s there where five buildings (one being a church) in the bay. The buildings belong to Ismaelli, Gabrielli, Canavelli<ref> In modern Croatian: Izmaeli, Gabrijeliċ, Kanavelić</ref> and Kolovic.  Then around the 1690s <ref>Vela Luka od 1490 do 1834 ''by'' Zvonko Maričić (p207)</ref> there were additional twelve households: Draginić, Tulić, Nalošić, Kostričić, Cetinić, Mirovšević, Žuvela, Prižmić, Marinović, Dragojević, Barčot and Surjan.

The Vallegrande Speak evolved in the 18th century and the first half of the 19th century. Vela Luka's early beginnings, from the late 17th century, started with the population of the neighbouring Blato <ref>In Croatian blato means ''mud'' it also has been said the word is related to ''water'' referring to the once lake in neighbouring field</ref> setting up a town in the large bay of Vallegrande (modern: Vela Luka). Zvonko Maričić states in the late 1500s there where five buildings (one being a church) in the bay. The buildings belong to Ismaelli, Gabrielli, Canavelli<ref> In modern Croatian: Izmaeli, Gabrijeliċ, Kanavelić</ref> and Kolovic.  Then around the 1690s <ref>Vela Luka od 1490 do 1834 ''by'' Zvonko Maričić (p207)</ref> there were additional twelve households: Draginić, Tulić, Nalošić, Kostričić, Cetinić, Mirovšević, Žuvela, Prižmić, Marinović, Dragojević, Barčot and Surjan.

Vallegrande Speak is an off shoot of the language spoken in '''18th century''' town of Blato. Etymology of Vallegrande would translate as large bay.  From Latin ''grandis'' means large, big whilst ' valle ' in local dialect means bays. Valle (plural) is most probably of Romance (Latin) Dalmatian origin which was spoken by '''Latin Dalmatians'''.

Vallegrande Speak is an off shoot of the language spoken in '''18th century''' town of Blato. Etymology of Vallegrande would translate as large bay.  From Latin ''grandis'' means large, big whilst ' valle ' in local dialect means bays. Valle (plural) is most probably of Romance (Latin) Dalmatian origin which was spoken by '''Latin Dalmatians'''.

 

Very important to note there is a strong element of Italian Venetian within Vallegrande Speak.

One could easily say that the old Vallegrande Speak is becoming extinct. Successive Yugoslavian governments, be it the Communist Yugoslavian regime (1945-92) or the earlier Kingdom of Yugoslavia, pushed a Pan-Slavic and Croatian Nationalistic political rule. One of their policies in Dalmatia was Slavicisation of the culture, language and history. Before Yugoslavia came into being the policy was first started to be implemented by Austro-Hungarian Empire, so '''Mr Gabrielli''' became Gabrijeliċ. It takes only one generation to change a language, two generations for it to cease to exist. Today's dialect in Vela Luka (Luški) is different and has incorporated much of the standardised modern Croatian language.  

One could easily say that the old Vallegrande Speak is becoming extinct. Successive Yugoslavian governments, be it the Communist Yugoslavian regime (1945-92) or the earlier Kingdom of Yugoslavia, pushed a Pan-Slavic and Croatian Nationalistic political rule. One of their policies in Dalmatia was Slavicisation of the culture, language and history. Before Yugoslavia came into being the policy was first started to be implemented by Austro-Hungarian Empire, so '''Mr Gabrielli''' became Gabrijeliċ. It takes only one generation to change a language, two generations for it to cease to exist. Today's dialect in Vela Luka (Luški) is different and has incorporated much of the standardised modern Croatian language.