Changes

If the translation of the [[Defence of Korcula|Defence of Korčula]] 
from Ottoman Turkish attack in 1571 (Antonii Rosanei - Corcyrae Melenae Opus), 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 (Antonii Rosanei - Corcyrae Melenae Opus), 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.  

===Vallegrande Speak Evolved in the Late 18th Century and in the First half of the 19th Century===

===Vallegrande Speak Evolved in the Late 18th Century and in the First Half of the 19th Century===

Vela Luka's first beginnings, are from the late 17th century. It 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 Mariich (Maričić) states in the late 1500s there where already five buildings in the bay (one being a church). 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 (written in modern Croatian): Draginić, Tulić, Nalošić, Kostričić, Cetinić, Mirovšević, Žuvela, Prižmić, Marinović, Dragojević, Barčot and Surjan.

Vela Luka's first beginnings, are from the late 17th century. It 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 Mariich (Maričić) states in the late 1500s there where already five buildings in the bay (one being a church). 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 (written in modern Croatian): Draginić, Tulić, Nalošić, Kostričić, Cetinić, Mirovšević, Žuvela, Prižmić, Marinović, Dragojević, Barčot and Surjan.

Vallegrande Speak (Old Vela Luka Dialect) is an off shoot of the language spoken in '''17th-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'''. The modern name is a Croatian translation of Vallegrande, Vela meaning ''large'' and Luka meaning ''bay'' or even port.

Vallegrande Speak (Old Vela Luka Dialect) is an off shoot of the language spoken in '''17th-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'''. The modern name, Vela Luka is a Croatian translation of Vallegrande, Vela meaning ''large'' and Luka meaning ''bay'' ''or'' even port.

Very important to note there is a strong element of Italian Venetian within Vallegrande Speak. By the time of 15th and 16th century the majority of the population of the island of Korčula (more in the west end) spoke Old Croatian with a mix of the Romance Dalmatian language and with heavy influences of Venetian (Lingua Franca of that era). During the rule of the Republic of Venice (from 1420 to 1797) saw the slow disappearance of Romance (Latin) Dalmatian.  

Very important to note there is a strong element of Italian Venetian within Vallegrande Speak. By the time of 15th and 16th century the majority of the population of the island of Korčula (more in the west end) spoke Old Croatian with a mix of the Romance Dalmatian language and with heavy influences of Venetian (Lingua Franca of that era). During the rule of the Republic of Venice (from 1420 to 1797) saw the slow disappearance of Romance (Latin) Dalmatian.