Description :
The Croatian communities of Molise have been a cultural asset to the region for centuries. The Croatian ethnic and linguistic minority has managed to preserve its cultural heritage over four centuries of history. The Croatians of Molise speak the language of their ancestors, who fled the Ottoman invasion of the Balkans.
The Croats settled in the villages of the province of Campobasso: Palata, Tavenna, Mafalda, Montelongo, Petacciato, San Biase and San Giacomo degli Schiavoni. These communities have integrated into the economic and social fabric of the region, whilst remaining faithful to the Church of Rome and the traditions of their homeland.
The Italian-Croatian Polynomial and Social Vocabulary of Molise is the result of a fruitful and well-established collaboration between cultural and scientific institutions, both local and international.
The Vocabulary is not merely a collection created at a time of rapid decline in traditional cultural languages: it also aims to serve as a methodological reference for the dynamic and multimedia documentation of minority languages, inspired by principles of sociolinguistic development.