Changes

[[File:250px-Croatia-Dalmatia-1.jpg|thumb|right|400px|The island of Korcula is marked red. Dalmatia (the dark purple) within todays modern [[Croatia]] ]]

[[File:250px-Croatia-Dalmatia-1.jpg|thumb|right|400px|The island of Korcula is marked red. Dalmatia (the dark purple) within todays modern [[Croatia]] ]]

'''Old Vela Luka Speak''' or Vallegrande Speak (in Croatian, ''Staro Luški govor'' <ref>Tako su stari govorili. Translate: ''That's how the old folk use to speak''.</ref>) is a old [[Korcula Dialect]] from the small  town of '''Vela Luka'''. The town is on the west end of the island of Korčula.<ref>The č is pronounced ''ch''.</ref> The island of Korčula lies just off the Dalmatian coast in [[Croatia]].<ref>John Everett-Healu. "Dalmatia." Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names. Oxford University Press. 2005. Encyclopedia.com</ref> The language base of this Korčula Dialect is '''Croatian Chakavian''' <ref>'''Editors note''':  Slavic tribes invaded the region of''' Roman Dalmatia''' in the early Middle Ages. Prior to the arrival of the Slavs, Roman Dalmatia was mainly inhabited by a '''Roman Latin-Illyrian''' population. Recent DNA studies have stated that more than three quarters of today's Croatian men are the descendants of Europeans who inhabited Europe 13 000-20 000 years ago (prior to the arrival of the Slavs). The first primary source (factual-that its authenticity isn't disputed) to mention the Croatian (Hrvat) identity in the Balkans was '''Duke Branimir''' (Latin:'' "Branimiro comite dux cruatorum cogitavit"''  c. 880 AD). Branimir was a Slav from Dalmatia.</ref>  (it is also intermixed with Old Western Shtokavian<ref>[http://ukpmc.ac.uk/articles/PMC2121596/reload=0;jsessionid=7BE5888928AF51ECB79DC33089D0E57A.jvm1 The Land of 1000 Islands] by Igor Rudan

'''Old Vela Luka Speak''' in Croatian, ''Staro Luški govor'' <ref>Tako su stari govorili. Translated: ''That's how the old folk use to speak''.</ref> (or

alternatively it could be called Vallegrande Speak) is an old [[Korcula Dialect]] from the small  town of Vela Luka. The town is on the west end of the island of Korčula.<ref>The č is pronounced ''ch''.</ref> The island of Korčula lies just off the Dalmatian coast in [[Croatia]].<ref>John Everett-Healu. "Dalmatia." Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names. Oxford University Press. 2005. Encyclopedia.com</ref> The language base of this Korčula Dialect is '''Croatian Chakavian''' <ref>'''Editors note''':  Slavic tribes invaded the region of''' Roman Dalmatia''' in the early Middle Ages. Prior to the arrival of the Slavs, Roman Dalmatia was mainly inhabited by a '''Roman Latin-Illyrian''' population. Recent DNA studies have stated that more than three quarters of today's Croatian men are the descendants of Europeans who inhabited Europe 13 000-20 000 years ago (prior to the arrival of the Slavs). The first primary source (factual-that its authenticity isn't disputed) to mention the Croatian (Hrvat) identity in the Balkans was '''Duke Branimir''' (Latin:'' "Branimiro comite dux cruatorum cogitavit"''  c. 880 AD). Branimir was a Slav from Dalmatia.</ref>  (it is also intermixed with Old Western Shtokavian<ref>[http://ukpmc.ac.uk/articles/PMC2121596/reload=0;jsessionid=7BE5888928AF51ECB79DC33089D0E57A.jvm1 The Land of 1000 Islands] by Igor Rudan

* "However, the clashes between the [[Directory:Turkey|Ottoman Empire]] and Venetian Republic produced extensive migrations from the mainland areas, especially from today's Bosnia and Herzegovina, to the eastern parts of the islands of Brač, Hvar, Korčula, and Pag [Dalmazia Veneta]. The newcomers brought their gene pool and a variety of cultural specificities, including the Shtokavian dialect of the Croatian language to the predominantly “Chakavian” area. The most extensive migrations to these islands occurred during the Cypriote (1571-1573), Candian (1645-1669), and Morean wars (1684-1699)."</ref>). It has a strong elements of ''Italian Venetian'' and it also has remnants of the extinct Romance (Latin) language, '''Dalmatian''' <ref>'''Encyclopedia Britannica''' {{quote|

* "However, the clashes between the [[Directory:Turkey|Ottoman Empire]] and Venetian Republic produced extensive migrations from the mainland areas, especially from today's Bosnia and Herzegovina, to the eastern parts of the islands of Brač, Hvar, Korčula, and Pag [Dalmazia Veneta]. The newcomers brought their gene pool and a variety of cultural specificities, including the Shtokavian dialect of the Croatian language to the predominantly “Chakavian” area. The most extensive migrations to these islands occurred during the Cypriote (1571-1573), Candian (1645-1669), and Morean wars (1684-1699)."</ref>). It has very strong elements of ''Italian Venetian'' and it also has small remnants of the extinct Romance (Latin) language, '''Dalmatian''' <ref>PRILOG PROUČAVANJU LEKSIČKIH RAZLIKA IZMEĐU GOVORA BLATA I VELE LUKE (I) by Petar Milat Panža ''(Eng:'' Contribution to the Study of Lexical Differences Between the Speech of Blato and Vela Luka): ''..... a famous Croatian linguist finally asserted that there is no Slavic studies without Roman studies! He admitted that it is not possible to study the Croatian language with its three dialects - Štokavian, Kajkavian and Chakavian - without studying Romance influences, especially on our Chakavian languages. By the term Romanic influences, we understand remnants from Latin through Dalmatian (Old Dalmatian, Dalmatian-Romance), then remnants from Venetian and all other Italian dialects, and finally the influences of the standard Italian language. Another group worthy of research is the lexicon of Slavic origin, which appears in the speech of Vela Luka, but is not present in the speech of Blato.''

 

</ref><ref>'''Encyclopedia Britannica''' {{quote|

''Romance language formerly spoken along the Dalmatian coast from the island of Veglia (modern Krk) to Ragusa (modern Dubrovnik). Ragusan Dalmatian probably disappeared in the 17th century.}}

''Romance language formerly spoken along the Dalmatian coast from the island of Veglia (modern Krk) to Ragusa (modern Dubrovnik). Ragusan Dalmatian probably disappeared in the 17th century.}}

</ref><ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dalmatian_language Dalmatian Language (Wikipedia)]</ref>. The Dalmatian remnants within the dialect have been sometimes referred to as Corzulot. The local dialect is sometimes referred to as 'Naški' <ref>'''Note''': Naški means 'ours' thus meaning ''"our language"'' in Croatian.</ref>  (the '''š''' is pronounced '''sh''').

</ref><ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dalmatian_language Dalmatian Language (Wikipedia)]</ref>. The Dalmatian remnants within the dialect have been sometimes referred to as Corzulot. The local dialect is sometimes referred to as 'Naški' <ref>'''Note''': Naški means 'ours' thus meaning ''"our language"'' in Croatian.</ref>  (the '''š''' is pronounced '''sh''').

The island was from 1420 to 1797 part of the '''Republic of Venice''' (the French Empire dissolved the Republic in 1797). The Old-Slavic term was Krkar.  According to Antun (Antonio) Rosanovic written in his [[Defence of Korcula (part two)|Defence of Korcula in 1571]] the Greeks named it ''Corcyra Melena''.<ref>Greek: Kórkyra Melaena or Κόρκυρα Μέλαινα, and Corcyra Nigra (Latin)</ref>  

The island was from 1420 to 1797 part of the '''Republic of Venice''' (the French Empire dissolved the Republic <ref>Note: In old Venetian 'Repùblega Vèneta' also know as La Serenissima </ref> in 1797). The Old-Slavic term was Krkar.  According to Antun (Antonio) Rosanovic written in his [[Defence of Korcula (part two)|Defence of Korcula in 1571]] the Greeks named it ''Corcyra Melena''.<ref>Greek: Kórkyra Melaena or Κόρκυρα Μέλαινα, and Corcyra Nigra (Latin)</ref>  

One of Korčula's old names was Curzola. Vela Luka in the past was called Vallegrande  (Latin: valle maxima).  

One of Korčula's older names was Curzola. Vela Luka in the past was called Vallegrande  (Latin: vallem maximam).  

[[File:242424 1862049509067 689609 o.jpg|thumb|right|500px|A ''Vela Luka-Vallegrande'' postcard from 1903, written in Croatian and [[Italy|Italian]]. Photo taken by Ernesto Furlani.]]

[[File:242424 1862049509067 689609 o.jpg|thumb|right|500px|A ''Vela Luka-Vallegrande'' postcard from 1903, written in Croatian and   [[Italy|Italian]]. Photo taken by Ernesto Furlani.]]

 

===Chronology-Korcula Island Languages===

===Chronology-Korcula Island Languages===

* Illyrian (Delmatae)

* Illyrian (Delmatae)

* Venetian (Romance language)

* Venetian (Romance language)

* Old West Shtokavian - Slavic

* Old West Shtokavian - Slavic

* Italian (standardise language arrived)

* Italian (standardise language arrived, besides Latin)

* Croato-Serbian (Slavic standardise language<ref>Standardise Croatian arrived in the 1860s. The Standardise language was referred to as '''Illyrian''' (Illirski). Ref from Osnovna Škola "Vela Luka" Vela Luka Zbornik-150 Godina Školstva u Velaoj Luci, p.50 written in Croatian</ref> ''also'' know as Serbo-Croatian, based on Neo Štokavian<ref>[//books.google.com.au/books?id=_lNjHgr3QioC&pg=PA132&lpg=PA132&dq=Croatian+Identity&source=bl&ots=fD7ElNqJfQ&sig=b_VK71LL4FYXG7LBjfPVUCSVC-E&hl=en&sa=X&ei=eSClVOSxLuLWmAW484HYDQ&ved=0CEAQ6AEwBzgK#v=onepage&q=Croatian%20Identity&f=false Language and Identity in the Balkans: Serbo-Croatian and Its Disintegration ... By Robert D. Greenberg]</ref>)

* Croato-Serbian (Slavic standardise language<ref>Standardise Croatian arrived in the late 1850s. The Standardise language was referred to as '''Illyrian''' (Illirski). Ref from Osnovna Škola "Vela Luka" Vela Luka Zbornik-150 Godina Školstva u Velaoj Luci, p.50 written in Croatian</ref> ''also'' know as Serbo-Croatian, based on Neo Štokavian<ref>[//books.google.com.au/books?id=_lNjHgr3QioC&pg=PA132&lpg=PA132&dq=Croatian+Identity&source=bl&ots=fD7ElNqJfQ&sig=b_VK71LL4FYXG7LBjfPVUCSVC-E&hl=en&sa=X&ei=eSClVOSxLuLWmAW484HYDQ&ved=0CEAQ6AEwBzgK#v=onepage&q=Croatian%20Identity&f=false Language and Identity in the Balkans: Serbo-Croatian and Its Disintegration ... By Robert D. Greenberg]</ref>)

Modern times

Modern times

* Croatian (Croatian Literary Standard, standardise language)

* Croatian (Croatian Literary Standard, standardise language)

==Words from the Old Vela Luka Dialect  - Staro Luški==

==Words from the Old Vela Luka Dialect  - Staro Luški==

Old Vela Luka Dialect (Vallegrande Speak) - '''English''' - Croatian

Old Vela Luka Dialect - '''English''' - Croatian

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* fratar - brother - brat (Romance Dalmatian)

* fratar - brother - brat (Romance Dalmatian)

* frigati -  to fry (Romance Dalmatian: fregur)

* frigati -  to fry (Romance Dalmatian: fregur)

* '''frižul''' - a spot to have a chat, on a stone bench <ref>''''Da Se Ne Zaboravi''': Rječnik, Stare Priče, Običaji i Zanati u Blatu na Otoku Korčuli' ''by'' Žanetić Pudarić, Blato 2009. In Croatian, taken from the book: ''"ižul - niska kamena klupa uz kuću koja služi za odmaranje, ćakulu, za prtit stoku, itd"''</ref> (Romance Dalmatian: faul ''or'' faular, meaning to speak)

* '''frižul''' - a spot to have a chat, on a stone bench <ref>''''Da Se Ne Zaboravi''': Rječnik, Stare Priče, Običaji i Zanati u Blatu na Otoku Korčuli' ''by'' Žanetić Pudarić, Blato 2009 (''Eng:'' Let's Not Forget: Dictionary, Old Stories, Customs and Trades in Blato on the Island of Korcula)

. In Croatian, meaning taken from the book: ''"ižul - niska kamena klupa uz kuću koja služi za odmaranje, ćakulu, za prtit stoku, itd (a low stone bench next to the house that is used for resting, discussions ....., etc."''</ref> (Romance Dalmatian: faul ''or'' faular, meaning to speak)

* forca - power (apply with strength)

* forca - power (apply with strength)

* fortuna - strong wind

* fortuna - strong wind

* vala - bay'' (vale - bays)''

* vala - bay'' (vale - bays)''

* vapor - ferry - trajekt (Venetian: Bapor meaning ''steamship'')  

* vapor - ferry - trajekt (Venetian: Bapor meaning ''steamship'')  

* vara vamo - move on ''or'' move over there

* vara vamo - move on ''or'' move over there, these are commands ''for'' local donkeys when on the move

* vedro - clear sky (Romance Dalmatian: vedar - ''to see'')

* vedro - clear sky (Romance Dalmatian: vedar - ''to see'')

* vesta - dress - ženska haljina (Venetian: garment, vestir: dress)

* vesta - dress - ženska haljina (Venetian: garment, vestir: dress)

We can definitely confirm that from the 13th century onwards there were '''two ethnic''' communities living on the island in the middle ages <ref>[http://books.google.com.au/books?id=p3oGybOY1w4C&pg=PA103&dq=korcula+Venice++Slavs&hl=en&ei=oMBjTJPQBoicvgPkpPCeCg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=6&ved=0CE4Q6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q=korcula%20Venice%20%20Slavs&f=false When Ethnicity Did not Matter in the Balkans:] by John Van Antwerp Fine. (p103) {{quote|

We can definitely confirm that from the 13th century onwards there were '''two ethnic''' communities living on the island in the middle ages <ref>[http://books.google.com.au/books?id=p3oGybOY1w4C&pg=PA103&dq=korcula+Venice++Slavs&hl=en&ei=oMBjTJPQBoicvgPkpPCeCg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=6&ved=0CE4Q6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q=korcula%20Venice%20%20Slavs&f=false When Ethnicity Did not Matter in the Balkans:] by John Van Antwerp Fine. (p103) {{quote|

''In 1262 the Venetian praised the Slavs and Latins on the island of Korcula for submitting to the prince Venice had sent.'' }}</ref><ref>Smiciklas, ''CD'' V, (p237)</ref><ref>N. Klaic, ''Povijest Hrvata u Razvijenom'', (p130) </ref>, one being descendants of the Roman Empire and the other being of Slavic descent.  

''In 1262 the Venetian praised the Slavs and Latins on the island of Korcula for submitting to the prince Venice had sent.'' }}</ref><ref>Smiciklas, ''CD'' V, (p237)</ref><ref>N. Klaic, ''Povijest Hrvata u Razvijenom'', (p83) </ref>, one being descendants of the Roman Empire and the other being of Slavic descent.  

Two languages became the norm on the island, firstly the Romance Latin language called ''Dalmatian'', then we have the '''arrival''' of old Slavic [[Croatia|Croatian Chakavian]] language. With time these languages started to overlap with the written language being [[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'', then we have the '''arrival''' of old Slavic [[Croatia|Croatian Chakavian]] language. With time these languages started to overlap with a form of '''bilingualism''' being created (with the written language being [[Latin]]). The fact that Slavs from the old 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]]  (دولت عليه عثمانیه, Turks) in '''1389''' a large group of peoples started a exodus westward (Byzantine's Constantinople fell to the Ottoman Empire in 1453). Venetian Dalmatia (Dalmazia Veneta) started to acquire new people in its region (i.e., Eastern Croatians - Hercegovci, Montenegrins, Albanians, Serbs & 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]]  (Ottoman Turkish: دولت عليه عثماني) in '''1389''' a large group of peoples started a exodus westward (Byzantine's Constantinople fell to the Ottoman Empire - Turks in 1453). Venetian Dalmatia (Dalmazia Veneta) started to acquire new people in its region (i.e., Eastern Croatians - Hercegovci, Montenegrins, Albanians, Serbs & 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 Western Shtokavian Slavic speakers. With these new added migrations the Slavic speakers became a majority (this applies more to west end of the island, with the village of Racisce being the exception. The village is in the eastern part 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><ref>Plague Epidemic on the Island of Korcula 2007 by Nikola Bačić 2007: " ''13. EPIDEMIC 1617. It swept all of Dalmatia, but left the most severe consequences on the island of Korčula. It appeared first with the sailors of the Venetian ship (as N. Ostojić describes) who wintered in Korčula that year. Suburban homes had to be emptied to turn into dwellings for diseased sailors. The contagion soon spread to citizens and within a few months more than half of the population had died. A particularly devastating disease was, according to the data, for wealthier residents, so many entire noble families who had a reputation for their homeland were extinct.''"</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 strong majority. This applies more to west end of the island, with the village of Račišće being the exception (the village is in the eastern part of the island).

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

===Old Vela Luka Dialect Evolved Late 18th Century===

===Old Vela Luka Dialect Evolved Late 18th Century===

Vela Luka's first beginnings as a town, are from the late 17th century (late 1600s). 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 re-written modern Croatian: Izmaeli, Gabrijeliċ, Kanavelić</ref> and Kolovic.   

Vela Luka's first beginnings as a town, are from the late 17th century (late 1600s). 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 with a port in the large bay of Vela Luka (Vallegrande ''or'' Latin: vallem maximam). Zvonko Maričić (Maricich) 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 re-written modern Croatian: 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.

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, Mirošević, [[Directory:Zuvela‎‎|Žuvela]], Prižmić, Marinović, Dragojević, Barčot and Surjan.

Old Vela Luka Dialect (Vallegrande Speak) 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 old Croatian translation of Vallegrande, Vela meaning ''large'' and Luka meaning ''bay'' or even port. Within the Liber Legum Statutorum Curzola (Statute of Korčula Town) the written version from 1427, Vela Luka the bay is mention as "''vela Luca''". With this record we have Croatian-Slavic language influences in the first half of 15th century. The first written Liber Legum Statutorum Curzola was by the Dalmatian Latins and new Slavic nobility in 1214.   

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 an old Croatian translation of Vallegrande, Vela meaning ''large'' and Luka meaning ''bay'' or even port. Within the Liber Legum Statutorum Curzola (Statute of Korčula Town) the written version from 1427, Vela Luka the bay is mention also as "''vela Luca''". With this record we have Croatian-Slavic language influences in the first half of 15th century. The first written Liber Legum Statutorum Curzola was by the Dalmatian Latins and possibly the new Slavic nobility in 1214.   

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 Old Vela Luka Dialect. 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 small remnants of the Romance Dalmatian language and with heavy influences of Italian Venetian (''lingua franca'' of that era). During the rule of the Republic of Venice (from 1420 to 1797) saw the disappearance of Romance (Latin) Dalmatian.  

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

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

One could easily say that now the Old Vela Luka Dialect (Staro Luški govor - Vallegrande Speak) is slowly 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 (Croatian Literary Standard).  

One could easily say that now the 'Old Vela Luka Dialect' (Staro Luški govor) is slowly becoming extinct. Successive Yugoslavian governments, be it the Communist Yugoslavian regime (1945-91) 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 too cease to exist. Today's dialect in Vela Luka (Luški Govor, English: Old Vela Luka Speak) is different and has incorporated much of the standardised modern Croatian language (Croatian Literary Standard).  

'''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.

The last Italian-language  government school was abolished in Korčula on the 13th of September 1876.<ref>[http://books.google.com.au/books?id=kMXURN7sxh4C&pg=PA83&lpg=PA83&dq=The+Italians+of+Dalmatia+Curzola+school&source=bl&ots=Sx1bUxdn1A&sig=YCATl36eEUduI42Azs0GVUeepBo&hl=en#v=onepage&q=The%20Italians%20of%20Dalmatia%20Curzola%20school&f=false The Italians of Dalmatia] by Luciano Monzali (p83)</ref><ref>'''Editor's Note''': The island of Korcula was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire (1815 to 1918). It was within the Kingdom of Dalmatia (Konigreich Dalmatien). In the neighbouring '''Kingdom of Croatia ''' (Königreich Kroatien)  a [[Croatia|Croatian]] nationalistic movement was established and alongside that, within the Balkan region a Pan-Slavic movement was growing (the beginnings of the ill fated Yugoslavia). These political on goings started to be felt in the Kingdom of Dalmatia. The [[Austria|Austrians]] in the 1860s started to introduce (a  process of [[Croatisation]])  within the Kingdom of Dalmatia a standardised Croatian language sometimes referred to as  Illyrian (Illirski). It then replaced Italian altogether. In effect the government undertook culture genocide. For centuries the Italian language was the official language of the Dalmatian establishment. It was also the spoken language in white-collar, civil service and merchant families. Privately Italian schools were still being run in the Kingdom of Dalmatia, i.e the city of Zadar. </ref>  

The last Italian-language  government school was abolished in Korčula on the 13th of September 1876.<ref>[http://books.google.com.au/books?id=kMXURN7sxh4C&pg=PA83&lpg=PA83&dq=The+Italians+of+Dalmatia+Curzola+school&source=bl&ots=Sx1bUxdn1A&sig=YCATl36eEUduI42Azs0GVUeepBo&hl=en#v=onepage&q=The%20Italians%20of%20Dalmatia%20Curzola%20school&f=false The Italians of Dalmatia] by Luciano Monzali (p83)</ref><ref>'''Editor's Note''': The island of Korcula was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire (1815 to 1918). It was within the Kingdom of Dalmatia (Konigreich Dalmatien). In the neighbouring '''Kingdom of Croatia ''' (Königreich Kroatien)  a [[Croatia|Croatian]] nationalistic movement was established and alongside that, within the Balkan region a Pan-Slavic movement was growing (the beginnings of the ill fated Yugoslavia). These political on goings started to be felt in the Kingdom of Dalmatia. The [[Austria|Austrians]] in the late 1850s  started to introduce (a  process of [[Croatisation]])  within the Kingdom of Dalmatia a standardised Croatian language sometimes referred to as  Illyrian (Illirski). It then replaced Italian altogether. In effect the government undertook culture genocide. For centuries the Italian language was the official language of the Dalmatian establishment. It was also the spoken language in white-collar, civil service and merchant families. Privately Italian schools were still being run in the Kingdom of Dalmatia, i.e the city of Zadar. </ref>  

* Information below taken from Beginnings of Formal Education - Vela Luka:

* Information below taken from Beginnings of Formal Education - Vela Luka:

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== Names of Bays, Fields and Parts of the Town==

== Names of Bays, Fields and Parts of the Town==

* Guvno (part of Vela Luka)

* Guvno (part of Vela Luka)

* Bobovišċa (once not part of Vela Luka but now is)

* Bobovišċa (once not part of Vela Luka but now is)

* Vranac

* Vranac

* Gradina (a small bay, west of Vela Luka)

* Gradina (a small bay, west of Vela Luka)

== See also ==

== See also ==

* [[Korcula Dialect|Korcula Dialect]]

* [[Korcula Dialect|Korcula Dialect]]

* [[Directory:Korcula History 2 |Korcula History, Romans & Venice]]

* [[Directory:Korcula History 2 |Korcula History, Romans & Venice]]

* [[Croatian Slavic Identity]]

* [[Dalmatian Italians]]

 

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[[File:85px-Coat of arms of Croatia.svg.png||thumb|left|250px|Coat of arms of Croatia (Hrvatska)]]

[[File:85px-Coat of arms of Croatia.svg.png||thumb|left|250px|Coat of arms of Croatia (Hrvatska)]]