Changes

Two languages became the norm on the island, firstly the Romance Latin language called ''Dalmatian'' and then we have the '''arrival''' of old Slavic [[Croatia|Croatian Chakavian]] language . With time these languages started to overlap. The written language was [[Latin]]. The fact that Slavs from the then neighbouring [[Directory:Croatia|Kingdom of Croatia]] also spoke old Slavic Chakavian could indicate that this group of Slavs came from the same ''or'' similar tribal group.

Two languages became the norm on the island, firstly the Romance Latin language called ''Dalmatian'' and then we have the '''arrival''' of old Slavic [[Croatia|Croatian Chakavian]] language . With time these languages started to overlap. The written language was [[Latin]]. The fact that Slavs from the then neighbouring [[Directory:Croatia|Kingdom of Croatia]] also spoke old Slavic Chakavian could indicate that this group of Slavs came from the same ''or'' similar tribal group.

When the Serbian forces were annihilated in the ''Battle of Kosovo'' by the [[Directory:Turkey|Ottoman Empire]]  (Turks) in '''1389''' a large group of peoples stated to migrate westward. Venetian Dalmatia started to acquire new people in its region (i.e., Eastern Croatians, Montenegrins, Serbs, Albanians & others) and add to the fact that the Black Plague <ref>Korcula was devastated by the plague in 1529 and 1558.{{citeweb|url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/322146/Korcula|title='''"Korcula."''' '''Encyclopædia Britannica'''. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Encyclopædia Britannica, 2011. Tue. 8 Mar. 2011. |date=[[2011]]|accessdate=2011-03-8}}

When the Serbian forces were annihilated in the ''Battle of Kosovo'' by the [[Directory:Turkey|Ottoman Empire]]  (Turks) in '''1389''' a large group of peoples stated to migrate westward. Venetian Dalmatia started to acquire new people in its region (i.e., Eastern Croatians - Hercegovci, Montenegrins, Serbs, Albanians & others) and add to the fact that the Black Plague <ref>Korcula was devastated by the plague in 1529 and 1558.{{citeweb|url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/322146/Korcula|title='''"Korcula."''' '''Encyclopædia Britannica'''. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Encyclopædia Britannica, 2011. Tue. 8 Mar. 2011. |date=[[2011]]|accessdate=2011-03-8}}

* '''Encyclopædia Britannica''': " A plague devastated the town in 1529, depleting the population. The burned houses of infected persons, called kućišta..."</ref><ref>[http://books.google.com.au/books?id=ZyOYDrSkX80C&pg=PA239&dq=Italian+population+Curzola&hl=en&ei=3ptXTcqwOIjSuwPI3NyrBQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CDAQ6AEwADgK#v=onepage&q=Italian%20population%20Curzola&f=false The Shores of the Adriatic (Illustrated Edition)] by F Hamilton Jackson (p239)</ref> depleted the island's population the Venetian authorities saw a need to bring new families to the island of Korčula. Amongst these were Shtokavian Slavic speakers. With these new added migrations the Slavic speakers became a majority (this applies more to west end of the island).

* '''Encyclopædia Britannica''': " A plague devastated the town in 1529, depleting the population. The burned houses of infected persons, called kućišta..."</ref><ref>[http://books.google.com.au/books?id=ZyOYDrSkX80C&pg=PA239&dq=Italian+population+Curzola&hl=en&ei=3ptXTcqwOIjSuwPI3NyrBQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CDAQ6AEwADgK#v=onepage&q=Italian%20population%20Curzola&f=false The Shores of the Adriatic (Illustrated Edition)] by F Hamilton Jackson (p239)</ref> depleted the island's population the Venetian authorities saw a need to bring new families to the island of Korčula. Amongst these were Western Shtokavian Slavic speakers. With these new added migrations the Slavic speakers became a majority (this applies more to west end of the island).

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.  

It also has to be taken into account that some parts of the population were bilingual (''or'' even trilingual).

It also has to be taken into account that some parts of the population were bilingual (''or'' even trilingual).

One could easily say that now 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 Govor, English: Luski Speak) is different and has incorporated much of the standardised modern Croatian language.  

One could easily say that now 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 the original '''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 Govor, English: Luski Speak) 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.