Martello
The Autonomous Province of Bolzano
The Autonomous Province of Bolzano, located on the border between Italy and Austria, is a trilingual area where three linguistic groups coexist: German, Italian and Ladin. According to the census of linguistic groups in 2011, 69.41% of the population speaks German, 26.06% Italian and the remaining 4.53% Ladin. Val Gardena and Val Badia are the areas where Ladin is most widespread, while the capital Bolzano, Merano and Bressanone are the centers where Italian is predominantly spoken.
Statistics
The table in the text provides a clear picture of the evolution of linguistic groups in the province of Bolzano over the years. In 1991, the German group constituted 67.99% of the population, while in 2011 it was 69.41%. The Italian group decreased from 27.65% to 26.06%, while the Ladin group increased from 4.36% to 4.53%. It is interesting to note that the data relating to the Ladin group have been included in the Italian group.
Concentration of linguistic groups
German-speaking residents are the majority in almost all municipalities in the province, with the exception of those where Italian or Ladin is spoken. The municipality of Bolzano, where Italian is predominantly spoken, is the only one where the Italian group constitutes the majority. Ladin speakers are mainly concentrated in Val Gardena and Val Badia.
Variations and speculations
The 2011 census revealed some variations in the distribution of linguistic groups compared to that of 1991. In particular, in the municipality of Brenner, the Italian linguistic group suffered a loss of 9%. According to some, this could be related to Austria's entry into the European Union and to the adhesion to the Schengen Agreements. These agreements would have led to the dismantling of customs and border posts at the Brenner Pass, causing a reduction in personnel in the area.
Postponement of the census
In conclusion, it is important to underline that the census of linguistic groups, which was supposed to start on March 1, 2022, has been postponed to an unspecified date. This is a decision dictated by legal and technical issues. The census will allow for an updated picture of the linguistic composition of the province and to monitor any possible evolution of it.
