Lia Rumantscha

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Rumantschia

The most important association is the Lia Rumantscha which was founded in 1919 as an umbrella organisation. Its function is to promote and maintain the Romansh culture and language inside and outside the traditional Romansh-speaking territory. It promotes the five Romansh variants: Sursilvan, Sutsilvan, Surniran, Vallader, Puter and the elaboration and spread of the standard variety Rumantsch Grischun. It plans and carries out projects regarding the spoken as well as the written language. From its head office in Coira, the Lia Rumantscha, supports, fosters and coordinates the activities of regional organisations that work in favour of the Romansh language and culture.
Services provided by the Lia Rumantscha (LR):

  • Language maintenance and language cultivation:
    The Lia Rumantscha has got a language service: scientific collaborators do language planning and work out dictionaries, grammars, language software and so on..).
  • Translations:
    The LR disposes of a translation service which has been considerably expanded.
  • Consulting and information:
    The LR gives advice to individuals or organizations in questions relating the Romansh language and culture.
  • Education and training:
    This service concentrates on education and training as well as support and advice for schools. Moreover, its tasks include the monitoring of teachers at Romansh schools, the production of didactic materials and the organization of language courses.
  • Promotion of language and culture:
    The LR coordinates three regional competence centres: Lia Rumantscha Surselva , the Lia Rumantscha Center Ladin and the Lia Rumantscha Grischun Central. These associations coordinate language planning (Rumantsch Grischun) and the promotion of regional idioms. The work in the regions is being expanded.
  • Promotion of work amongst young people:
    The LR promotes and supports all activities for Romansh young people, it supports above all the organisation “Giuru” with its magazine “Punts”.
  • Kindergarten:
    The LR also runs a Romansh kindergarten in its headquarters building. This kindergarten gets children ready for the bilingual school (Romansh/German) in Cuira.
  • Publishing activities
    The LR produces and distributes numerous Romansh books and audio-tapes in its library in Cuira and in the regional centres. It also supports Romansh publications of other publishers.

Affilated organisations:

  • Surselva Romontscha / region Surselva  (founded 2006) Subsequent organisation (founded 1896) for the Catholic parts of Surselva
  • Uniun dals Grischs (UdG) / Engadin, Val Müstair, Bergün (founded 1904)
  • Uniun Rumantscha da Surmeir (URS) /Oberhalbstein, Albula Valley (founded 1921)
  • Renania / Protestant parts of (Surselva) and Sutselva (founded 1922); Surselva Romontscha has taken over the areas of the Valley of the Rein Anteriur in 2006.

Supra-regional organisations with specialised functions

  • Societad Retorumantscha (SSR)
    The oldest language society (founded 1896), the body supportimg the Insitut Dicziunari Rumantsch Grischun in Coira  and publisher of the national dictionary with the same name  (DRG).
  • Cuminanza Rumantscha Radio e Televisiun (CRR), since 2008 SRG.R:
    Romansh radio and television company (founded 1946)
  • Uniun per la Litteratura Rumantscha (ULR)
    Romansh writer’s union (founded 1946; until 2004: Uniun da scripturas e scripturs rumantschs (USR))
  • Giuventetgna Rumantscha (GiuRu)
    Umbrella organization for the Romansh youth, founded 1991 (accepted as a n affiliated organisation of he LR 1997)
  • Pro Svizra Rumantscha (PSR)
    This association aims the maintenance of the Romansh daily newspaper (foundation of the news agency ANR, training of Romansh journalists)

Romansh associations outside the Grisons:

  • Uniun da las Rumantschas e dals Rumantschs en la Bassa (URB)
    Association of the Romansh outside the Grisons (accepted as an affilated organisation of the LR 1991). The Romansh language is fostered in several groups and associations. (useful addresses: Pro Raetia).
  • Quarta Lingua (QL)
    Association of sympathisers of the Romansh culture and language with head office in Zürich (founded in 1972, (accepted as an affilated organisation of the LR 2003). Aim and purpose: bridging between official languages in Switzerland, promotion of exchange and comprehension beyond the language boundaries, promotion of Rumantsch Grischun as a bridge language (common language).