Mapping the Walser toponymy in the western Italian Alps. State-of-the-art report and project proposals

The Walser are a population of Alemannic origin who, from the twelfth century, migrated from Bavaria to the Alpine area and finally reached some valleys of the western Italian Alps. Their economic and cultural isolation has preserved their language and cultural heritage for eight centuries, including the toponymy of their territories, which until now has been handed down mainly in oral form. During the UGI toponymy Conference held in Vienna in November 2019, problems related to the conservation of this cultural heritage were outlined: they are caused by population’s demographic decline and their assimilation into the cultural context of the Italian nation. Now, this research attempts to outline the state of the art of glottological research on the Walser population and the perspectives for the conservation of oral toponymy; to propose methods and objectives of still existing toponyms mapping.