(BBC) Bolze is more than a just a language: it’s a cultural identity

[Astronuc]

Cool article by By Molly Harris (BBC), 23rd April 2019
https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20190422-the-swiss-language-that-few-know

The Sarine River skirts the edge of Basse-Ville (lower town), dividing both the canton of Fribourg and the city of Fribourg into two sectors: German-speaking and French-speaking. The city of around 40,000 people is clearly one of duality: street signs are all in two languages; residents can choose whether their children will use French or German in primary school; and the university even offers a bilingual curriculum.

However, head to medieval Basse-Ville, caught between the German- and French-speaking divisions of Fribourg, and you’ll find yourself in a no-man's land where the two languages have become one: le Bolze.

Among all this linguistic complexity, the city of Fribourg/Freiburg (as it’s known in French/German) has the added challenge of lying on the language borders between French- and German-speaking cantons – Vaud and Bern – which is perhaps why it’s home to a people who decided to develop their own language.

While the exact origins of the language are unknown, many believe that Bolze was created during the Industrial Revolution in the 19th Century, when people began to migrate from the countryside into cities as jobs became available during the industrial boom. As a city bordering both French- and Swiss German-speaking countryside villages, Fribourg grew and expanded into a bilingual, cultural and industrial hub for the poor seeking work.

“Many farmers from the Sense, the region next to Fribourg, came to find a job, and they found cheap living conditions in the Basse-Ville neighbourhood. They thought life would be easier in town,” explained Fribourg tour guide and Bolze expert Michel Sulger.

These workers needed a way to understand one another and work together. So they merged their mother tongues to create a new language.

I've wondered about places like Alsace and Lorraine that have moved back and forth among two nations/states/regions, or for that matter, the borders of nations.

The Sarine river flows from Lake of Gruyère (French: Lac de la Gruyère; German: Lac de la Gruyère or Greyerzersee), which has primary inflows from Saane/Sarine, Sionge, Jogne. The source of the Sarine/Saane is between Sanetschhorn and Col du Sanetsch.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saane/Sarine
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_of_Gruyère

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanetschhore
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanetsch_Pass

https://www.la-gruyere.ch/en/Z10968/gorges-jogne

It seems someone needs to write Wikipedia articles on the Sionge and Jogne rivers/valleys.

 

[fresh_42]

I've wondered about places like Alsace and Lorraine that have moved back and forth among two nations/states/regions, or for that matter, the borders of nations.

Not sure about Lorraine, but I think it is similar to Alsace. People from Alsace consider themselves French. Their language, however, is an Alemannic dialect, which means that people on both sides of the border speak a related dialect. German is only spoken around Hannover, and - I think Luther - made it the official language. However, people from other areas speak, or at least spoke, their own dialects which are partly far away from German as it is taught at school. Hence it is not really fair to call Alsatians German-speaking. They will probably understand it but prefer to use French as the official language.

And thanks to de Gaulle and Adenauer that this isn't an issue anymore.

 

[AlexTheParticle]

I'm sure there is much more to the story of the Bolze language than what is presented here, but it is a fascinating example of how language and culture can adapt and evolve in the face of changing political and social landscapes. It also highlights the unique history and complexities of Switzerland, a country with four official languages and a long tradition of bilingualism and multiculturalism. The Bolze language serves as a reminder of the power of human ingenuity and resilience in the face of adversity, and the importance of preserving and celebrating local languages and cultures.