Changes

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 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''</ref> setting up a town in the large bay of Vallegrande (modern: Vela Luka).  

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''</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 Kolović.  Then around the 1690s there were twelve households <ref>Vela Luka od 1490 do 1834 ''by'' Zvonko Maričić (p207)</ref> in the bay of Vela Luka: Draginić, Tulić, Nalošić, Kostričić, Cetinić, Mirovšević, Žuvela, Prižmić, Marinović, Dragojević, Barčot and Surjan.

 

According to the book ''Vela Luka od 1490 do 1834'' by Zvonko Maričić, around 1690s there were twelve households in the bay of Vela Luka <ref>Vela Luka od 1490 do 1834 ''by'' Zvonko Maričić (p207)</ref>: 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 '''Roman 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 '''Roman Dalmatians'''.

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.