Centre for Francoprovençal Studies

The Centre d’études francoprovençales (Centre for Francoprovençal Studies) is in Saint-Nicolas, in the hamlet of Fossaz Dessus. It bears the name of René Willien. It is often referred to by its initials, Cefp. Its subject is a language little known outside the Alps: Francoprovençal, of which Valdôtain patois is a variety. The centre is based in the Aosta Valley, but its work covers the whole Francoprovençal area.

A municipality, volunteers, researchers

The Cefp relies on the support of the municipality of Saint-Nicolas and the work of many volunteers. A fairly wide network has grown up around it. It includes local people, researchers, institutions and associations.

What the centre does

First, the Cefp encourages research. It supports studies in linguistics and ethnology. These shed light on the history of Francoprovençal and its distinctive features. They also feed into discussions on the future of the language.

Second, the centre makes this heritage known. It organises lectures and training courses. It publishes books and runs activities open to a wide audience.

Finally, it works with others. Universities, cultural bodies and schools are its regular partners. These exchanges link the people involved with Francoprovençal, in the Valley and beyond.

A language hard to classify

The birth of Francoprovençal is generally placed between the 5th and 7th centuries. Its history is complicated. Linguists long debated its place among the Romance languages and its exact boundaries. These boundaries have shifted with the political and social history of the regions concerned.

A mainly spoken language

Francoprovençal remains above all an oral language. It is nevertheless enjoying something of a revival, driven by enthusiasts and by digital tools. The Cefp plays its part: it provides resources for learning the language and for using it.