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* Sir John Gardner Wilkinson (October 5, 1797 – October 29, 1875) was an English traveller, writer and pioneer Egyptologist of the 19th century. He is often referred to as "the Father of British Egyptology".</ref> a 19 century [[United Kingdom|English]] historian, referred to the Dalmatian Slavic dialect as Illirskee.<ref>'''Illyricum''' was a Roman province named after one of the Indigenous groups in the region.</ref>  

* Sir John Gardner Wilkinson (October 5, 1797 – October 29, 1875) was an English traveller, writer and pioneer Egyptologist of the 19th century. He is often referred to as "the Father of British Egyptology".</ref> a 19 century [[United Kingdom|English]] historian, referred to the Dalmatian Slavic dialect as Illirskee.<ref>'''Illyricum''' was a Roman province named after one of the Indigenous groups in the region.</ref>  

One of '''Korčula's''' old names was Curzola. The island was from 1420 to 1797 part of the ''Republic of Venice''. The Old-Slavic term was Krkar.  According to [[Defence of Korcula (part two)|Antun Rosanovic]] (Defence of Korcula in 1571)  the Greeks named it '''Kórkyra Melaena''' meaning Black Corfu after their homeland and the dense woods on the island.  

One of '''Korčula's''' old names was Curzola. The island was from 1420 to 1797 part of the ''Republic of Venice''. The Old-Slavic term was Krkar.  According to [[Defence of Korcula (part two)|Antun (Antonio) Rosanovic]] (Defence of Korcula in 1571)  the Greeks named it '''Kórkyra Melaena''' meaning Black Corfu after their homeland and the dense woods on the island.  

<ref>Corcira Melaena (Greek:Kórkyra Melaena)</ref> Vela Luka in the past was called ''Vallegrande''.

<ref>Corcira Melaena (Greek:Kórkyra Melaena)</ref> Vela Luka in the past was called ''Vallegrande''.

If the translation of the [[Defence of Korcula|Defence of Korčula]] 
from Ottoman Turkish attack in 1571, originally written by Antun (Antonio) Rozanovic is ''untainted'', we can see that the majority of the defenders of the island were by 1571 of Slavic decent. If we use this as a reference then from the mid 16th century onwards the majority of Korčula's population was indeed of Slavic origins.  

If the translation of the [[Defence of Korcula|Defence of Korčula]] 
from Ottoman Turkish attack in 1571, originally written by Antun (Antonio) Rozanovic is ''untainted'', we can see that the majority of the defenders of the island were by 1571 of Slavic decent. If we use this as a reference then from the mid 16th century onwards the majority of Korčula's population was indeed of Slavic origins.  

The Vallegrande Speak evolved in the first half of the 19th century. Vela Luka's early beginnings, from the late 18th century, started with the population of the neighbouring Blato <ref>In Croatian blato means  ''mud''.Also in past know as ''Blatta''</ref> setting up a town in the large bay of Vallegrande (modern: Vela Luka). 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 '''Roman Dalmatians'''.

The Vallegrande Speak evolved in the first half of the 19th century. Vela Luka's early beginnings, from the late 18th century, started with the population of the neighbouring Blato <ref>In Croatian blato means  ''mud''.Also in past know as ''Blatta''</ref> setting up a town in the large bay of Vallegrande (modern: Vela Luka). 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 '''Roman Dalmatians'''.

It is believed that there were two hamlets in the bay, Vela Luka and Bobovicsa <ref>In modern Croatian: Bobovišċa</ref>. According to Zvonko Maricich in the late 1500s there four buildings in the bay and one church. The buildings belong to Ismaelli, Gabrielli, Canavelli<ref>In modern Croatian: Izmaeli, Gabrijeliċ, Kanavelić</ref>and Kolovic.   

It is believed that there were two hamlets in the bay, Vela Luka and Bobovicsa <ref>In modern Croatian: Bobovišċa</ref>. According to Zvonko Maricich in the late 1500s there where four buildings in the bay and one church. The buildings belong to Ismaelli, Gabrielli, Canavelli<ref>In modern Croatian: Izmaeli, Gabrijeliċ, Kanavelić</ref>and Kolovic.   

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 Gabriel''' 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.  

'''Note''': From the late 19th century onwards the old [[Dalmatian Italians#The Cultural and Historical Venetian Presence in Dalmatia |Dalmatian]] culture has been all but disappearing from the region.

'''Note''': From the late 19th century onwards the old [[Dalmatian Italians#The Cultural and Historical Venetian Presence in Dalmatia |Dalmatian]] culture has been all but disappearing from the region.