Resia Valley Slovene minority in Italy

bilingual italian-resian road sign in resia valley, friuli

the inhabitants of resia valley in north-western friuli speak specific dialect of slovene, known resian. due specific phonetic features , archaic grammar, resian not mutually intelligible standard slovene , other slovene dialects. historically , culturally (as linguistically), resia considered part of venetian slovenia. nevertheless, inhabitants maintain special identity. according italian , regional legislation, resians considered part of slovene minority in italy; however, there strong local movements oppose identification slovenes , slovene language, , defend separate resian identity. however, these movements associated italian nationalism, , defend folkloristic understanding of local culture. on other hand, of more active cultural associations in valley defend resian culture part of wider slovene culture.