Dalmatian was a Romance language, which was spoken in Dalmatia, on the Eastern Adriatic Sea. The language became extinct in the Middle Ages. In places it was used until the 18th or 19th century. Today, few sources are left. Only the dialect of Veglia (Krk) and Ragusa (Dubrovnik) have enough sources so they can be studied. From the other dialects, there are only isloate words, or short phrases.
In 1897, the scholar Matteo Bartoli, himself a native of nearby Istria, visited postman Tuone Udaina (Italian: Antonio Udina), nicknamed burbur ('barber' in Dalmatian) the last known speaker of any Dalmatian dialect, to study his language. Bartoli wrote down approximately 2,800 words, stories, and accounts of his life, which were published in a book in German (Das Dalmatische) in 1906. That book has provided much information on the vocabulary, phonology, and grammar of the language.
One year after the interview, on 10 June 1898, Tuone Udaina was accidentally killed at 74 in a roadwork explosion.
Questions and Answers
Q: What language was spoken in Dalmatia?
A: A Romance language called Dalmatian was spoken in Dalmatia.
Q: When did the language become extinct?
A: The language became extinct in the Middle Ages.
Q: How long was it used until?
A: In some places, it was used until the 18th or 19th century.
Q: Who wrote down information about the language?
A: The scholar Matteo Bartoli wrote down approximately 2,800 words, stories, and accounts of his life related to the language.
Q: Where were these words published?
A: These words were published in a book written in German called Das Dalmatische which was released in 1906.
Q: Who provided much of this information on the vocabulary, phonology and grammar of the language?
A: Tuone Udaina (also known as burbur), who was the last known speaker of any Dalmatian dialect, provided much of this information on the vocabulary, phonology and grammar of the language when he spoke with Matteo Bartoli.
Q: When did Tuone Udaina die? A: Tuone Udaina died one year after his interview with Matteo Bartoli on 10 June 1898 due to an explosion at a roadwork site.
