Editing Friulian language

{{Short description|Gallo-Romance language of Friuli, northeast Italy}}
{{redirect|Furlan|the surname|Furlan (surname)}}
{{Infobox language
| name             = Friulian
| nativename       = {{lang|fur|furlan}}
| states           = [[Italy]]
| region           = [[Friuli]]
| ethnicity        = [[Friulians]]
| speakers         = Regular speakers: 420,000
| date             = 2014
| ref              = e25
| speakers2        = Total: 600,000 (2014)<ref name=e25/>
| familycolor      = Indo-European
| fam1             = {{wikidata|label|short|linked|Q19860}}
| fam2             = {{wikidata|label|short|linked|Q131848}}
| fam3             = {{wikidata|label|short|linked|Q33478}}
| fam4             = {{wikidata|label|short|linked|Q19814}}
| fam5             = {{wikidata|label|short|linked|Q112608}}
| fam6             = {{wikidata|label|short|linked|Q2714388}}
| fam7             = {{wikidata|label|short|linked|Q500394}}
| fam8             = {{wikidata|label|short|linked|Q515593}} or {{wikidata|label|short|linked|Q97646466}}<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://glottolog.org/resource/languoid/id/friu1240 |title=Friulian |date=2022-05-24 |access-date=2022-10-07 |website=[[Glottolog]] |last1=Hammarström |first1=Harald |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220709182828/glottolog.org/resource/languoid/id/friu1240 |archive-date=2022-07-09 |url-status=live |publisher=[[Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology]] |last2=Forkel |first2=Robert |last3=Haspelmath |first3=Martin |last4=Bank |first4=Sebastian}}</ref>
| dia1             = [[Fornes dialects|Fornes]]
| iso2             = fur
| iso3             = fur
| glotto           = friu1240
| glottorefname    = Friulian
| lingua           = 51-AAA-m
| script           = [[Latin script|Latin]] (Friulian alphabet)
| agency           = Agjenzie regjonâl pe lenghe furlane [http://www.arlef.it/]
| notice           = IPA
| map              = Friulian Language distribution correct extintions.png
}}

'''Friulian''' ({{IPAc-en|f|r|i|ˈ|uː|l|i|ə|n}} {{respell|free|OO|lee|ən}}) or '''Friulan''' (natively {{Audio|Furlan.ogg|''furlan''|help=no}} or {{lang|fur|marilenghe}}; {{langx|it|friulano}}; {{langx|de-AT|Furlanisch}}; {{langx|sl|furlanščina}}) is a [[Romance languages|Romance language]] belonging to the [[Rhaeto-Romance languages|Rhaeto-Romance]] family.  Friulian is spoken in the [[Friuli]] region of northeastern [[Italy]] and has around 600,000 speakers, the vast majority of whom also speak [[Italian language|Italian]]. It is sometimes called '''Eastern Ladin''' since it shares the same roots as [[Ladin language|Ladin]], but over the centuries, it has diverged under the influence of surrounding languages, including [[German language|German]], [[Italian language|Italian]], [[Venetian language|Venetian]], and [[Slovene language|Slovene]]. Documents in Friulian are attested from the 11th century and poetry and literature date as far back as 1300. By the 20th century, there was a revival of interest in the language.

== History ==
[[File:Bandiere dal Friûl.svg|thumb|Historical flag of Friûl and the Friulian people.]]
A question that causes many debates is the influence of the Latin spoken in [[Aquileia]] and surrounding areas. Some claim that it had peculiar features that later passed into Friulian. Epigraphs and inscriptions from that period show some variants if compared to the standard Latin language, but most of them are common to other areas of the Roman Empire. Often, it is cited that [[Fortunatianus of Aquileia|Fortunatianus]], the bishop of [[Aquileia]] {{circa}} 342–357 AD, wrote a commentary to the [[Gospel]] in ''sermo rusticus'' (the common/{{Wikt-lang|ang|rustic}} language), which, therefore, would have been quite divergent from the standard [[Latin language|Latin]] of administration.<ref name="RegionEFVG">{{Cite web |url=http://www.regionefvg.com/storiafriuli/05aquilcristiana/testoaqcristiana.htm |title=Aquileia Cristiana |website=www.regionefvg.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030405073256/http://www.regionefvg.com/storiafriuli/05aquilcristiana/testoaqcristiana.htm |archive-date=2003-04-05}}</ref> The text itself did not survive so its language cannot be examined, but its attested existence testifies to a shift of languages while, for example, other important communities of Northern Italy were still speaking Latin. The languages spoken before the arrival of the Romans in 181&nbsp;BC were [[Rhaetic]], [[Venetic]] and [[Celtic languages|Celtic]].<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Marchesini|first1=Simona|year=2019|title=L'onomastica nella ricostruzione del lessico: il caso di Retico ed Etrusco|url=http://journals.openedition.org/mefra/7613|journal=Mélanges de l'École française de Rome: Antiquité|language=it|location=Rome|publisher=École française de Rome|volume=131|issue=1|pages=123–136|doi=10.4000/mefra.7613|isbn=978-2-7283-1428-7|s2cid=214398787 |access-date=January 31, 2020|url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref>Schumacher, Stefan; Kluge, Sindy (2013–2017). Salomon, Corinna (ed.). "Thesaurus Inscriptionum Raeticarum". Department of Linguistics. of the University of Vienna</ref><ref name="Raetic script">{{cite web|url=https://tir.univie.ac.at/wiki/Script#Raetic_script|publisher=Thesaurus Inscriptionum Raeticarum|title=Script|access-date=2024-06-04}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author-first=Simona |author-last=Marchesini |translator-first=Melanie |translator-last=Rockenhaus|date=2018|title=Raetic  |url=http://mnamon.sns.it/index.php?page=Lingua&id=41&lang=en|access-date=26 July 2018|website=Mnamon - Ancient Writing Systems in the Mediterranean|publisher=Scuola Normale Superiore}}</ref> The inhabitants belonged to the [[Raeti]], a likely [[pre-Indo-European language]] population, the [[Italic languages|Italic]] [[Adriatic Veneti|Veneti]], and the [[Carni]], a Celtic population.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Marchesini|first1=Simona|year=2013|title=I rapporti etrusco/retico-italici nella prima Italia alla luce dei dati linguistici: il caso della "mozione" etrusca|journal=Rivista storica dell'antichità|location=Bologna|publisher=Pàtron editore|volume=43|pages=9–32|issn=0300-340X |language=it}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uUlRDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA139|title=The Oxford Guide to the Romance Languages|last1=Ledgeway|first1=Adam|last2=Maiden|first2=Martin|date=2016|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=9780199677108|pages=139|language=en}}</ref> In modern Friulian, the words of Rhaetic, Venetic or Celtic origin include terms referring to mountains, woods, plants, or animals, as well as local [[toponyms]] and [[onomastics]] (e.g. names of villages with ''-acco'', ''-icco'').<ref name="Raetic script"/><ref>{{cite journal|last1=Marchesini|first1=Simona|year=2019|title=L'onomastica nella ricostruzione del lessico: il caso di Retico ed Etrusco|url=http://journals.openedition.org/mefra/7613|journal=Mélanges de l'École française de Rome: Antiquité|language=it|location=Rome|publisher=École française de Rome|volume=131|issue=1|pages=123–136|doi=10.4000/mefra.7613|isbn=978-2-7283-1428-7|s2cid=214398787 |access-date=January 31, 2020|url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Qmg6DfzFP9cC&pg=PA31|title=Our Italian Surnames|last=Fucilla|first=Joseph Guerin|date=1949|publisher=Genealogical Publishing Com|isbn=9780806311876|pages=31|language=en}}</ref> Even influences from the [[Lombardic language]] — Friuli was one of [[Kingdom of the Lombards|their]] strongholds — are present. In a similar manner, there is a unique connection to the modern, nearby [[Lombard language]].

In Friulian, there is also a plethora of words of [[German language|German]], [[Slovenian language|Slovenian]] and [[Venetian language|Venetian]] origin. From that evidence, scholars today agree that the formation of new Friulian dates back to circa 500 AD, at the same time as other dialects derived from Latin (see [[Vulgar Latin]]). The first written records of new Friulian have been found in administrative acts of the 13th century, but the documents became more frequent in the following century, when literary works also emerged (''Frammenti letterari'' for example). The main centre at that time was [[Cividale del Friuli|Cividale]]. The Friulian language has never acquired primary official status: legal statutes were first written in Latin, then in Venetian and finally in Italian.

=== The "Ladin Question" ===
[[File:Ascoli.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Historical linguist [[Graziadio Isaia Ascoli]] presented the theory that Ladin, Romansh and Friulian are from the same family.]]
{{Main|Questione Ladina}}
The idea of unity among [[Ladin language|Ladin]], [[Romansh language|Romansh]] and Friulian comes from the Italian [[historical linguistics|historical linguist]] [[Graziadio Isaia Ascoli]], who was born in [[Gorizia]]. In 1871, he presented his theory that these three languages are part of one family, which in the past stretched from [[Switzerland]] to [[Muggia]] and perhaps also [[Istria]]. The three languages are the only survivors of this family and all developed differently. Friulian was much less influenced by [[German language|German]]. The scholar Francescato claimed subsequently that until the 14th century, the [[Venetian language]] shared many phonetic features with Friulian and Ladin and so he thought that Friulian was a much more [[conservative (language)|conservative]] language. Many features that Ascoli thought were peculiar to the Rhaeto-Romance languages can, in fact, be found in other languages of Northern [[Italy]].

== Areas ==

=== Italy ===
Today, Friulian is spoken in the [[province of Udine]], including the area of the Carnia [[Alps]], but as well throughout the [[province of Pordenone]], in half of the province of [[Province of Gorizia|Gorizia]], and in the eastern part of the [[province of Venice]]. In the past, the language borders were wider since in [[Trieste]] and [[Muggia]], local variants of Friulian were spoken. The main document about the dialect of Trieste, or ''tergestino'', is "Dialoghi piacevoli in dialetto vernacolo triestino", published by G. Mainati in 1828.

=== World ===
Friuli was, until the 1960s, an area of deep poverty, causing a large number of Friulian speakers to emigrate. Most went to [[France]], [[Belgium]], and [[Switzerland]] or outside [[Europe]], to [[Canada]], [[Mexico]], [[Australia]], [[Uruguay]], [[Argentina]], [[Brazil]], [[Venezuela]], the [[United States]], and [[South Africa]]. In those countries, there are associations of Friulian immigrants (called ''Fogolâr furlan'') that try to protect their traditions and language.

== Literature ==
{{missing information|section|Examples and english translation of 13th and 14th century texts|date=May 2018}}
{{main|Friulian literature}}
The first texts in Friulian date back to the 13th century and are mainly commercial or juridical acts. The examples show that Friulian was used together with Latin, which was still the administrative language. The main examples of literature that have survived (much from this period has been [[Lost literary work|lost]]) are poems from the 14th century and are usually dedicated to the theme of love and are probably inspired by the Italian poetic movement [[Dolce Stil Novo]]. The most notable work is ''Piruç myò doç inculurit'' (which means "My pear, all colored"); it was composed by an anonymous author from Cividale del Friuli, probably in 1380.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Original text
!Version in modern Friulian
|-
|Piruç myò doç inculurit
quant yò chi viot, dut stoi ardit
|Piruç gno dolç incolorît
cuant che jo ti viôt, dut o stoi ardît
|}

There are few differences in the first two rows, which demonstrates that there has not been a great evolution in the language except for several words which are no longer used (for example, {{lang|fur|dum(n) lo}}, a word which means "child"). A modern Friulian speaker can understand these texts with only little difficulty.

The second important period for Friulian literature is the 16th century. The main author of this period was [[Ermes di Colorêt]], who composed over 200 poems.
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Notable poets and writers:
!Years active:
|-
|[[Ermes di Colorêt]]
|1622–1692
|-
|[[Pietro Zorutti]]
|1792–1867
|-
|[[Caterina Percoto]]
|1812–1887
|-
|{{ill|Novella Cantarutti|fur||it}}
|1920–2009
|-
|[[Pier Paolo Pasolini]]
|1922–1975
|-
|Rina Del Nin Cralli (Canada)
|1929–2021
|-
|{{ill|Carlo Sgorlon|fur||it}}
|1930–2009
|}

== Phonology ==
{{expand section|date=July 2012}}

===Consonants===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|-
|+ Consonant phonemes in Central Friulian<ref name="iosad">Pavel Iosad, ''Final devoicing and vowel lengthening in the north of Italy: A representational approach'', Slides, Going Romance 24, December 10th 2010, Universiteit Leiden, Academia Lugduno Batava [http://www.slideshare.net/paveliosad/final-devoicing-and-vowel-lengthening-in-the-north-of-italy-a-representational-approach-8511021]</ref>
! colspan=2 | 
! [[Labial consonant|Labial]]
! [[Dental consonant|Dental]]/<br/>[[Alveolar consonant|Alveolar]]
! [[Palatal consonant|Palatal]]
! [[Velar consonant|Velar]]
|-
! colspan=2 | [[Nasal stop|Nasal]]
| {{IPA link|m}}
| {{IPA link|n}}
| {{IPA link|ɲ}}
| {{IPA link|ŋ|(ŋ)}}
|-
! rowspan=2 | [[Plosive consonant|Plosive]]
! {{small|[[Voicelessness|voiceless]]}}
| {{IPA link|p}}
| {{IPA link|t̪|t}}
| {{IPA link|c}}
| {{IPA link|k}}
|-
! {{small|[[Voice (phonetics)|voiced]]}}
| {{IPA link|b}}
| {{IPA link|d̪|d}}
| {{IPA link|ɟ}}
| {{IPA link|ɡ}}
|-
! rowspan=2 | [[Affricate consonant|Affricate]]
! {{small|[[Voicelessness|voiceless]]}}
|
| {{IPA link|ts}}
| {{IPA link|tʃ}}
|
|-
! {{small|[[Voice (phonetics)|voiced]]}}
|
| {{IPA link|dz}}
| {{IPA link|dʒ}}
|
|-
! rowspan=2 | [[Fricative consonant|Fricative]]
! {{small|[[Voicelessness|voiceless]]}}
| {{IPA link|f}}
| {{IPA link|s}}
| {{IPA link|ʃ|(ʃ)}}
|
|-
! {{small|[[Voice (phonetics)|voiced]]}}
| {{IPA link|v}}
| {{IPA link|z}}
| {{IPA link|ʒ|(ʒ)}}
|
|-
! colspan=2 | [[Trill consonant|Trill]]
|
| {{IPA link|r}}
|
|
|-
! colspan=2 | [[Approximant consonant|Approximant]]
| {{IPA link|w}}
| {{IPA link|l}}
| {{IPA link|j}}
|
|}

Notes:
* {{IPA|/m, p, b/}} are [[bilabial consonant|bilabial]], whereas {{IPA|/f, v/}} are [[labiodental consonant|labiodental]] and {{IPA|/w/}} is [[velarized|labiovelar]].
* Note that, in the standard language, a phonemic distinction exists between true palatal stops {{IPA|[c ɟ]}} and palatoalveolar affricates {{IPA|[tʃ dʒ]}}. The former (written {{angbr|cj gj}}) originate from Latin {{angbr|c g}} before {{angbr|a}}, whereas the latter (written {{angbr|c/ç z}}, where {{angbr|c}} is found before {{angbr|e}} and {{angbr|i}}, and {{angbr|ç}} is found elsewhere) originate primarily from Latin {{angbr|c g}} before {{angbr|e}} and {{angbr|i}}. The palatalization of Latin {{angbr|c}} and {{angbr|g}} before {{angbr|a}} is characteristic of the [[Rhaeto-Romance languages]] and is also found in [[French language|French]] and some [[Occitan language|Occitan]] varieties. In some Friulian dialects (e.g. Western dialects), corresponding to Central {{IPA|[c ɟ tʃ dʒ]}} are found {{IPA|[tʃ dʒ s z]}}. Note in addition that, due to various sound changes, these sounds are all now phonemic; note, for example, the minimal pair ''{{lang|fur|cjoc}}'' "drunk" vs. ''{{lang|fur|çoc}}'' "log".

===Vowels===
[[File:Friulian vowel chart.svg|thumb|250px|Friulian vowel chart.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Miotti |first=Renzo |date=2002 |title=Friulian |journal=Journal of the International Phonetic Association |volume=32 |issue=2 |page=242 |doi=10.1017/S0025100302001056|doi-broken-date=1 November 2024 |doi-access=free }}</ref> The long vowels are slightly diphthongal, and the blue vowels occur when unstressed.]]
{|class="wikitable"
|-
|+ Vowel phonemes<ref name="pilar"/>
!
! [[Front vowel|Front]]
! [[Central vowel|Central]]
! [[Back vowel|Back]]
|-align=center
! [[Close vowel|Close]]
| {{IPA link|i}} {{IPA link|iː}}
|
| {{IPA link|u}} {{IPA link|uː}}
|-align=center
! [[Close mid vowel|Close mid]]
| {{IPA link|e}} {{IPA link|eː}}
| 
| {{IPA link|o}} {{IPA link|oː}}
|-align=center
! [[Open mid vowel|Open mid]]
| {{IPA link|ɛ}}
| 
| {{IPA link|ɔ}}
|-align=center
! [[Open vowel|Open]]
|
| {{IPA link|ä|a}} {{IPA link|ä|aː}}
|
|}

===Orthography===
Some notes on orthography (from the perspective of the standard, i.e. Central, dialect):<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.geocities.ws/rpontisso/alphabet.html|title=The Furlan / Friulian Alphabet|website=www.geocities.ws|access-date=17 March 2018}}</ref>
* Long vowels are indicated with a [[circumflex]]: {{angbr|â ê î ô û}}.
* {{angbr|e}} is used for both {{IPA|/ɛ/}} (which only occurs in stressed syllables) and {{IPA|/e/}}; similarly, {{angbr|o}} is used for both {{IPA|/ɔ/}} and {{IPA|/o/}}.
* {{IPA|/j/}} is spelled {{angbr|j}} word-initially, and {{angbr|i}} elsewhere.
* {{IPA|/w/}} occurs primarily in diphthongs, and is spelled {{angbr|u}}.
* {{IPA|/s/}} is normally spelled {{angbr|s}}, but is spelled {{angbr|ss}} between vowels (in this context, a single {{angbr|s}} is pronounced {{IPA|/z/}}).
* {{IPA|/ɲ/}} is spelled {{angbr|gn}}, which can also occur word-finally.
* {{IPA|[ŋ]}} is an allophone of {{IPA|/n/}}, found word-finally, before word-final ''-s'', and often in the prefix ''in-''. Both sounds are spelled {{angbr|n}}.
* {{IPA|/k/}} is normally spelled {{angbr|c}}, but {{angbr|ch}} before {{angbr|e}} and {{angbr|i}}, as in Italian.
* {{IPA|/ɡ/}} is normally spelled {{angbr|g}}, but {{angbr|gh}} before {{angbr|e}} and {{angbr|i}}, again as in Italian.
* The palatal stops {{IPA|/c ɟ/}} are spelled {{angbr|cj gj}}. Note that in some dialects, these sounds are pronounced {{IPA|[tʃ dʒ]}}, as described above.
* {{IPA|/tʃ/}} is spelled {{angbr|c}} before {{angbr|e}} and {{angbr|i}}, {{angbr|ç}} elsewhere. Note that in some dialects, this sound is pronounced {{IPA|[s]}}.
* {{IPA|/dʒ/}} is spelled {{angbr|z}}. Note that in some dialects, this sound is pronounced {{IPA|[z]}}.
* {{angbr|z}} can also represent {{IPA|/ts/}} or {{IPA|/dz/}} in certain words (e.g. ''nazion'' "nation", ''lezion'' "lesson").
* {{angbr|h}} is silent.
* {{angbr|q}} is no longer used except in the traditional spelling of certain proper names; similarly for {{angbr|g}} before {{angbr|e}} and {{angbr|i}}.

===Long vowels and their origin===
Long vowels are typical of the Friulian language and greatly influence the Friulian pronunciation of Italian.

Friulian distinguishes between short and long vowels: in the following [[minimal pair]]s (long vowels are marked in the official orthography with a [[circumflex]] accent):
: ''lat'' (milk)
: ''lât'' (gone)
: ''fis'' (fixed, dense)
: ''fîs'' (sons)
: ''lus'' (luxury)
: ''lûs'' (light n.)

Friulian dialects differ in their treatment of long vowels. In certain dialects, some of the long vowels are actually diphthongs. The following chart shows how six words (''sêt'' thirst, ''pît'' foot, ''fîl'' "wire", ''pôc'' (a) little, ''fûc'' fire, ''mûr'' "wall") are pronounced in four dialects. Each dialect uses a unique pattern of diphthongs (yellow) and monophthongs (blue) for the long vowels:

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!
! Latin origin
! West
! Codroipo
! Carnia
! Central
|-
| ''sêt'' "thirst"
|| {{sc|sitim}}
| style="background:#f5d623;"| {{IPA|[seit]}}
| style="background:#02adff;"| {{IPA|[seːt]}}
| style="background:#f5d623;"| {{IPA|[seit]}}
| style="background:#02adff;"| {{IPA|[seːt]}}
|-
| ''pît'' "foot"
|| {{sc|pedem}}
| style="background:#f5d623;"| {{IPA|[peit]}}
| style="background:#f5d623;"| {{IPA|[peit]}}
| style="background:#02adff;"| {{IPA|[piːt]}}
| style="background:#02adff;"| {{IPA|[piːt]}}
|-
| ''fîl'' "wire"
|| {{sc|fīlum}}
| style="background:#02adff;"| {{IPA|[fiːl]}}
| style="background:#02adff;"| {{IPA|[fiːl]}}
| style="background:#02adff;"| {{IPA|[fiːl]}}
| style="background:#02adff;"| {{IPA|[fiːl]}}
|-
| ''pôc'' "a little"
|| {{sc|paucum}}
| style="background:#f5d623;"| {{IPA|[pouk]}}
| style="background:#02adff;"| {{IPA|[poːk]}}
| style="background:#f5d623;"| {{IPA|[pouk]}}
| style="background:#02adff;"| {{IPA|[poːk]}}
|-
|''fûc'' "fire"
|| {{sc|focum}}
| style="background:#f5d623;"| {{IPA|[fouk]}}
| style="background:#f5d623;"| {{IPA|[fouk]}}
| style="background:#02adff;"| {{IPA|[fuːk]}}
| style="background:#02adff;"| {{IPA|[fuːk]}}
|-
|''mûr'' "wall"
|| {{sc|mūrum}}
| style="background:#02adff;"| {{IPA|[muːr]}}
| style="background:#02adff;"| {{IPA|[muːr]}}
| style="background:#02adff;"| {{IPA|[muːr]}}
| style="background:#02adff;"| {{IPA|[muːr]}}
|-
|}

Note that the vowels ''î'' and ''û'' in the standard language (based on the Central dialects) correspond to two different sounds in the Western dialects (including Codroipo). These sounds are not distributed randomly but correspond to different origins: Latin short {{sc|e}} in an open syllable produces Western {{IPA|[ei]}} but Central {{IPA|[iː]}}, whereas Latin long {{sc|ī}} produces {{IPA|[iː]}} in both dialects. Similarly, Latin short {{sc|o}} in an open syllable produces Western {{IPA|[ou]}} but Central {{IPA|[uː]}}, whereas Latin long {{sc|ū}} produces {{IPA|[uː]}} in both dialects. The word ''mûr'', for example, means both "wall" (Latin {{sc|mūrum}}) and "(he, she, it) dies" (Vulgar Latin *{{sc|morit}} from Latin {{sc|moritur}}); both words are pronounced {{IPA|[muːr]}} in Central dialects, but respectively {{IPA|[muːr]}} and {{IPA|[mour]}} in Western dialects.

Long consonants (ll, rr, and so on), frequently used in Italian, are usually absent in Friulian.

Friulian long vowels originate primarily from vowel lengthening in stressed [[open syllable]]s when the following vowel was lost.<ref name="pilar">{{Citation
| last  = Prieto
| first = Pilar
| title = Compensatory Lengthening by Vowel and Consonant Loss in Early Friulian
| journal = Catalan Working Papers in Linguistics
| year    = 1992
| pages   = 205–244
| url     = http://www.raco.cat/index.php/CatalanWP/article/viewFile/74015/91197
}}</ref> Friulian vowel length has no relation to vowel length in Classical Latin. For example, Latin {{smallcaps|valet}} yields ''vâl'' "it is worth" with a long vowel, but Latin {{smallcaps|vallem}} yields ''val'' "valley" with a short vowel. Long vowels aren't found when the following vowel is preserved, e.g.:
* before final -e < Latin {{smallcaps|-a}}, cf. short ''gnove'' "new (fem. sg.)" < Latin {{smallcaps|nova}} vs. long ''gnûf'' "new (masc. sg.)" < Latin {{smallcaps|novum}};
* before a non-final preserved vowel, cf. ''tivit'' {{IPA|/ˈtivit/}} "tepid, lukewarm" < Latin {{smallcaps|tepidum}}, ''zinar'' {{IPA|/ˈzinar/}} "son-in-law" < Latin {{smallcaps|generum}}, ''ridi'' {{IPA|/ˈridi/}} "to laugh" < Vulgar Latin {{smallcaps|*rīdere}} (Classical {{smallcaps|rīdēre}}).

It is quite possible that vowel lengthening occurred originally in all stressed open syllables, and was later lost in non-final syllables.<ref name="loporcaro">{{Citation
| last = Loporcaro
| first = Michele
| contribution = (Too much) synchrony within diachrony? Vowel length in Milanese.
| title = GLOW Phonology Workshop
| year = 2005
| url = http://www.vanoostendorp.nl/linguist/glow2005/wsloporcaro.pdf
}}</ref> Evidence of this is found, for example, in the divergent outcome of Vulgar Latin {{IPA|*/ɛ/}}, which becomes {{IPA|/jɛ/}} in originally closed syllables but {{IPA|/i(ː)/}} in Central Friulian in originally open syllables, including when non-finally. Examples: ''siet'' "seven" < Vulgar Latin {{IPA|*/sɛtte/}} < Latin {{sc|septem}}, word-final ''pît'' "foot" < Vulgar Latin {{IPA|*/pɛde/}} < Latin {{sc|pedem}}, non-word-final ''tivit'' {{IPA|/ˈtivit/}} "tepid, lukewarm" < Vulgar Latin {{IPA|*/tɛpedu/}} < Latin {{sc|tepidum}}.

An additional source of vowel length is [[compensatory lengthening]] before lost consonants in certain circumstances, cf. ''pâri'' "father" < Latin {{smallcaps|patrem}}, ''vôli'' "eye" < Latin {{smallcaps|oc(u)lum}}, ''lîre'' "pound" < Latin {{smallcaps|libra}}. This produces long vowels in non-final syllables, and was apparently a separate, later development than the primary lengthening in open syllables. Note, for example, the development of Vulgar Latin {{IPA|*/ɛ/}} in this context: {{IPA|*/ɛ/}} > {{IPA|*/jɛ/}} > ''iê'' {{IPA|/jeː/}}, as in ''piêre'' "stone" < Latin {{sc|petram}}, differing from the outcome {{IPA|/i(ː)/}} in originally open syllables (see above).

Additional complications:
* Central Friulian has lengthening before {{IPA|/r/}} even in originally closed syllables, cf. ''cjâr'' {{IPA|/caːr/}} "cart" < Latin {{smallcaps|carrum}} (homophonous with ''cjâr'' "dear [masc. sg.]" < Latin {{smallcaps|cārum}}). This represents a late, secondary development, and some conservative dialects have the expected length distinction here.
* Lengthening doesn't occur before [[nasal consonant]]s even in originally open syllables, cf. ''pan'' {{IPA|/paŋ/}} "bread" < Latin {{smallcaps|panem}}, ''prin'' {{IPA|/priŋ/}} "first" < Latin {{smallcaps|prīmum}}.
* Special developments produced absolutely word-final long vowels and length distinctions, cf. ''fi'' "fig" < Latin {{sc|fīcum}} vs. ''fî'' "son" < Latin {{sc|fīlium}}, ''no'' "no" < Latin {{sc|nōn}} vs. ''nô'' "we" < Latin {{sc|nōs}}.

[[Synchrony (linguistics)|Synchronic]] analyses of vowel length in Friulian often claim that it occurs predictably in final syllables before an underlying voiced [[obstruent]], which is then devoiced.<ref name="torres">{{Citation
| last  = Torres-Tamarit
| first = Francesc
| title = Length and voicing in Friulian and Milanese
| journal = Natural Language and Linguistic Theory
| volume = 33
| issue = 4
| year    = 2015
| pages   = 1351–1386
| doi = 10.1007/s11049-014-9271-7
| s2cid = 170893106
| url     = http://roa.rutgers.edu/content/article/files/1464_francesc_torrestamarit_1.pdf
}}</ref> Analyses of this sort have difficulty with long-vowel contrasts that occur non-finally (e.g. ''pâri'' "father" mentioned above) or not in front of obstruents (e.g. ''fi'' "fig" vs. ''fî'' "son", ''val'' "valley" vs. ''vâl'' "it is worth").

== Morphology ==
Friulian is quite different from Italian in its morphology; it is, in many respects, closer to [[French language|French]].

=== Nouns ===
In Friulian as in other [[Romance languages]], [[noun]]s are either [[grammatical gender|masculine or feminine]] (for example, "''il mûr''" ("the wall", masculine), "''la cjadree''" ("the chair", feminine).

==== Feminine ====
Most feminine nouns end in ''-e'', which is pronounced, unlike in Standard French:

* ''cjase'' = house (from Latin "casa, -ae" hut)
* ''lune'' = moon (from Latin "luna, -ae")
* ''scuele'' = school (from Latin "schola, -ae")

Some feminine nouns, however, end in a consonant, including those ending in ''-zion'', which are from [[Latin]].
* ''man'' = hand (from Latin "manŭs, -ūs" f)
* ''lezion'' = lesson (from Latin "lectio, -nis" f

Note that in some Friulian dialects the -e feminine ending is actually an -a or an -o, which characterize the dialect area of the language and are referred to as ''a/o-ending dialects'' (e.g. {{lang|fur|cjase}} is spelled as {{lang|fur|cjaso}} or {{lang|fur|cjasa -}} the latter being the oldest form of the feminine ending).

==== Masculine ====
Most masculine nouns end either in a consonant or in ''-i''.
* ''cjan'' = dog
* ''gjat'' = cat
* ''fradi'' = brother
* ''libri'' = book

A few masculine nouns end in ''-e'', including ''sisteme'' (system) and ''probleme'' (problem). They are usually words coming from [[Ancient Greek]]. However, because most masculine nouns end in a consonant, it is common to find the forms ''sistem'' and ''problem'' instead, more often in print than in speech.

There are also a number of masculine nouns borrowed intact from [[Italian language|Italian]], with a final ''-o'', like ''treno'' (train). Many of the words have been fully absorbed into the language and even form their plurals with the regular Friulian ''-s'' rather than the Italian [[desinence]] changing. Still, there are some purists, including those influential in Friulian publishing, who frown on such words and insist that the "proper" Friulian terms should be without the final ''-o''. Despite the fact that one almost always hears ''treno'', it is almost always written ''tren''.

=== Articles ===
The Friulian [[article (grammar)|definite article]] (which corresponds to "the" in English) is derived from the Latin ''ille'' and takes the following forms:

{| class="wikitable"
|+ [[Definite article]]s
! Number
! Masculine
! Feminine
|-
! Singular
| il
| la
|-
! Plural
| i
| lis
|}
Before a vowel, both ''il'' and ''la'' can be abbreviated to l' in the standard forms - for example ''il + arbul'' (the tree) becomes ''l'arbul.'' Yet, as far as the article ''la'' is concerned, modern grammar recommends that its non elided form should be preferred over the elided one: ''la acuile (the eagle)'' although in speech the two ''a'' sounds are pronounced as a single one. In the spoken language, various other articles are used.<ref>In Northern Friuli, ''el'' is used instead of ''il''. In Southern and Western Friuli, ''al'' is used instead of ''il''. In Northern Friuli, ''li'' or ''las'' is used instead of ''lis'' and ''le'' instead of ''la''.</ref>

The indefinite article in Friulian (which corresponds to ''a'' and ''an'' in English) derives from the Latin ''unus'' and varies according to gender:
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|+ [[Indefinite article]]s
|-
! Masculine
| un
|-
! Feminine
| une
|}

A partitive article also exists: '''des''' for feminine and '''dai''' for masculine: {{lang|fur|des vacjis}} – ''some cows'' and ''dai libris'' - ''some books''

=== Adjectives ===
A Friulian [[adjective]] must agree in gender and number with the noun it qualifies. Most adjectives have four forms for singular (masculine and feminine) and plural (masculine and feminine):

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|+ Declension
|-
! Number
! Masculine
! Feminine
|-
! Singular
| brut
| brute
|-
! Plural
| bruts
| brutis
|}

(Like for nouns, for a/o-ending dialects the plural is simply obtained by adding an ''s -'' e.g. ''brute'' corresponds to ''bruta/bruto'' and its plural form ''brutis'' is ''brutas/brutos'').

The feminine is formed in several ways from the masculine:
* in most cases, all that is needed is -e (short: ''curt'', ''curte'')
* if the final letter is a -c, the feminine can end with -cje, -gje, -che, -ghe (little: pôc, pôcje)
* if the final letter is a -f, the feminine can end with -ve (new: ''gnûf, gnove'')
* if the final letter is a -p, the feminine can end with -be (sour: ''garp, garbe'')
* if the final letter is a -t, the feminine can end with -de (green: ''vert, verde'')

=== Plurals ===
To form the plural of masculine and feminine nouns ending in -e, the -e is changed to -is (whilst a/o-ending dialects simply add an s)
* {{lang|fur|taule}}, {{lang|fur|taulis}} = table, tables
* {{lang|fur|cjase}}, {{lang|fur|cjasis}} = house, houses
* {{lang|fur|lune}}, {{lang|fur|lunis}} = moon, moons
* {{lang|fur|scuele}}, {{lang|fur|scuelis}} = school, schools
* {{lang|fur|sisteme}}, {{lang|fur|sistemis}} = system, systems
* {{lang|fur|manece}}, {{lang|fur|manecis}} = glove, gloves
* {{lang|fur|gnece}}, {{lang|fur|gnecis}} = niece, nieces

The plural of almost all other nouns is just -s. It is always pronounced as voiceless [s], as in [[English language|English]] ''cats'', never as voiced [z], as in ''dogs''.
* {{lang|fur|man}}, {{lang|fur|mans}} = hand, hands
* {{lang|fur|lezion}}, {{lang|fur|lezions}} = lesson, lessons
* {{lang|fur|cjan}}, {{lang|fur|cjans}} = dog, dogs
* {{lang|fur|gjat}}, {{lang|fur|gjats}} = cat, cats
* {{lang|fur|fradi}}, {{lang|fur|fradis}} = brother, brothers
* {{lang|fur|libri}}, {{lang|fur|libris}} = book, books
* {{lang|fur|tren}}, {{lang|fur|trens}} = train, trains
* {{lang|fur|braç}}, {{lang|fur|braçs}} = arm, arms (from Latin "bracchium")
* {{lang|fur|guant}}, {{lang|fur|guants}} = glove, gloves (compare English "gauntlet")

In some Friulian dialects, there are many words whose final consonant becomes silent when the -s is added. The words include just about all those whose singular form ends in -t. The plural of {{lang|fur|gjat}}, for example, is written as {{lang|fur|gjats}} but is pronounced in much of Friuli as if it were {{lang|fur|gjas}}. The plural of {{lang|fur|plat}} 'dish', though written as {{lang|fur|plats}}, is often pronounced as {{lang|fur|plas}}. Other words in this category include ''clâf'' (key) and ''clap'' (stone), whose plural forms, clâfs and claps, are often pronounced with no f or p, respectively (clâs, clas) so the longer a in the former is all that distinguishes it from the latter. A final -ç, which is pronounced either as the [[English language|English]] "-ch" (in central Friulian) or as "-s", is pluralized in writing as -çs, regardless of whether the pluralized pronunciation is "-s" or "-ts" (it varies according to dialect): messaç / messaçs (message).

==== Exceptions ====
Masculine nouns ending in -l or -li form their plurals by palatalising final -l or -li to -i.
* {{lang|fur|cjaval}}, {{lang|fur|cjavai}} = horse, horses (from Latin "caballus")
* {{lang|fur|fîl}}, {{lang|fur|fîi}} = string, strings (from Latin "filum")
* {{lang|fur|cjapiel}}, {{lang|fur|cjapiei}} = hat, hats
* {{lang|fur|cjaveli}}, {{lang|fur|cjavei}} = hair, hairs
* {{lang|fur|voli}}, {{lang|fur|voi}} = eye, eyes
* {{lang|fur|zenoli}}, {{lang|fur|zenoi}} = knee, knees (from Latin "genu")
Notice how these very often correspond to French nouns that form an irregular plural in -''x'': ''cheval-chevaux, chapeau-chapeaux, cheveu-cheveux, oeil-yeux, genou-genoux''.

Feminine nouns ending in -l have regular plurals.
* ''piel'', ''piels'' = skin, skins
* ''val'', ''vals'' (in northern Friulian also "tal", "tals") = valley, valleys

Masculine nouns ending in -st form their plurals by palatalising the final -t to -cj
* ''cavalarist'', ''cavalariscj'' = military horseman, military horsemen
* ''test'', ''tescj'' = text, texts

Some masculine nouns ending in -t form their plurals by palatalising the final -t to -cj:
* {{lang|fur|dint}}, {{lang|fur|dincj}} = tooth, teeth (from Latin "dens, -tis")
* {{lang|fur|dut}}, {{lang|fur|ducj}} = all (of one thing), all (of several things) (from Latin "totus")

Nouns ending in "s" do not change spelling in the plural, but some speakers may pronounce the plural -s differently from the singular -s.
* ''vues'' = bone, bones
* ''pes'' = fish (singular or plural) (from Latin "piscis")
* ''mês'' = month, months (from Latin "mensis")

The plural of ''an'' (year) has several forms depending on dialect, including ''ain'', ''ains'', ''agn'' and ''agns''. Regardless of pronunciation, the written form is ''agns''.

The same happens for the adjective ''bon'' (good), as its plural is {{lang|fur|bogns}}.

=== Clitic subject pronouns ===
A feature of Friulian are the clitic [[Subject (grammar)|subject]] [[pronoun]]s. Known in Friulian as ''pleonastics'', they are never stressed; they are used together with the verb to express the subject and can be found before the [[verb]] in [[Sentence (linguistics)#Classification by purpose|declarative sentences]] or immediately after it in case of [[Question|interrogative]] or vocative (''optative'') sentences.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|+ Weak pronouns
|-
!
! Declaration
! Question
! Invocation
|-
! I
| o
| -(i)o
| -(i)o
|-
! You (singular)
| tu
| -tu
| -tu
|-
! He
| al
| -(i)al
| -(i)al
|-
! She
| e
| -(i)e
| -(i)e
|-
! We
| o
| -o
| -o
|-
! You (plural)
| o
| -o
| -o
|-
! They
| -a
| -o
| -o
|}

An example: ''jo o lavori'' means "I work"; ''lavorio?'' means "Do I work?", while ''lavorassio'' means "I wish I worked".

=== Verbs ===
* Friulian verbal [[infinitive]]s have one of four endings, -â, -ê, -i, -î; removing the ending gives the root, used to form the other forms (''fevelâ'', to speak; root ''fevel-''), but in the case of irregular verbs, the root changes. They are common (''jessi'', to be; ''vê'', to have; ''podê'', to be able to). Verbs are frequently used in combination with adverbs to restrict the meaning.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|+ Verbs, present, declarative form
|-
! Person
! ''fevelâ'' (to speak)
! ''lâ'' (to go)
! ''jessi'' (to be)
!''vê'' (to have)
|-
! Jo o
| feveli
| voi
| soi
|ai
|-
! Tu tu
| fevelis
| vâs
| sês
|âs
|-
! Lui al
| fevele
| va
| è
|à
|-
!Jê e
|fevele
|va
|je
|à
|-
! Nô o
| fevelìn
| lin
| sin
|vin
|-
! Vô o
| fevelais
| lais, vais
| sês
|vês
|-
! Lôr a
| fevelin
| van
| son
|àn
|}

=== Adverbs ===
An adjective can be made into an [[adverb]] by adding -mentri to the ending of the feminine singular form of the adjective (''lente'' becomes ''lentementri'', slowly), but it can sometimes<ref>Such is the case of FriulIan adjectives deriving from Latin adjectives of the second class.</ref> lose the -e of the adjective (''facile'' becomes ''facilmentri'', easily). It is more common in the written language; in the spoken language people frequently use other forms or locutions (''a planc'' for slowly).

== Vocabulary ==
Most vocabulary is derived from Latin, with substantial phonological and morphological changes throughout its history. Therefore, many words are shared with the other [[Romance languages]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://borel.slu.edu/crubadan/table.html|title=Language similarity table|website=slu.edu|access-date=17 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060501015456/http://borel.slu.edu/crubadan/table.html|archive-date=1 May 2006|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Here the composition:
* [[Rhaetic]] and [[Celtic languages|Celtic]] (9%) words are many, because the substrate of the Vulgar Latin spoken in Friuli, was the Rhaetic language and the Karn-Celtic language. ("bâr", wood; "clap/crap", stone;"cjâr", plow)
* Modern [[German language|German]] (10%) words were introduced in particular in the [[Middle Ages]], during the [[Patrie dal Friûl]], when the influence from this culture was quite strong (''bearç'', backyard; "crot", frog/toad).
* [[Slavic languages|Slavic]] (3%) words were brought by [[Slavic peoples|Slavic]] (mostly [[Alpine Slavs|Alpine Slavic]]) immigrants called several times to [[Friuli]] to repopulate lands devastated by [[Hungarian people|Hungarian]] invasions in the 10th century ({{lang|fur|cjast}}, barn; {{lang|fur|zigâ}}, to shout). Furthermore, many Slavic words have entered Friulian through the centuries-long neighbouring between Friulians and [[Slovenes]], especially in north-eastern Friuli ([[Slavia Friulana]]) and in the [[Gorizia and Gradisca]] area. Words such as ''colaç'' (cake), ''cudiç'' (devil) and ''cos'' (basket) are all of [[Slovene language|Slovene]] origin. There are also many toponyms with Slavic roots.
* There are many words that have Germanic (8%, probably [[Lombardic language|Lombardic]] origins), Celtic and Rhaetic roots (what still remained of the languages spoken before the Romans came). Examples of the first category are ''sbregâ'', to tear; ''sedon'', spoon; ''taponâ'', to cover. For the latter categories, ''troi'', path; {{lang|fur|bragons}}, trousers.
* Latin and derived languages (68%):
**[[Venetian language]] influenced Friulian vocabulary: {{lang|fur|canucje}}, straw.
** Some [[French language|French]] words entered the Friulian vocabulary: {{lang|fur|pardabon}}, really and ''gustâ'', to have lunch.
** [[Italian language|Italian]] itself has a growing influence on Friulian vocabulary, especially as far as neologisms are concerned (''tren'' meaning train). Such neologisms are currently used even if they're not accepted in the official dictionary (for example the verb "to iron" is ''sopressâ'' but the verb ''stirâ'' taken from Italian is used more and more instead).
* Scientific terms are often of Greek origin, and there are also some [[Arabic languages|Arabic]] terms in Friulian (<1%, ''lambic'', still).
* Many [[English language|English]] words (such as computer, monitor, mouse and so on) have entered the Friulian vocabulary through Italian. (more than 1%).

== Present condition ==
Nowadays, Friulian is officially recognized in [[Italy]], supported by law 482/1999, which protects linguistic minorities. Therefore, optional teaching of Friulian has been introduced in many primary schools. An online newspaper is active{{citation needed|date=January 2025}}, and there are also a number of musical groups singing in Friulian and some theatrical companies. Recently, two movies have been made in Friulian (''Tierç lion'', ''Lidrîs cuadrade di trê''), with positive reviews in Italian newspapers.{{when|date=August 2024}} In about 40% of the communities in the [[Province of Udine]], road signs are in both Friulian and Italian. There is also an official translation of the [[Bible]]. In 2005, a notable brand of beer used Friulian for one of its commercials.{{citation needed|date=August 2024}}

The main association to foster the use and development of Friulian is the ''Societât filologjiche furlane'', founded in [[Gorizia]] in 1919.

=== Toponyms ===
{{Main article|List of Friulian place names}}
[[File:Road sign in Friulian.jpg|thumb|Road sign in Italian and Friulian.]]
Every city and village in Friuli has two [[List of Friulian place names|names]], one in [[Italian language|Italian]] and one in Friulian. Only the Italian is official and used in administration, but it is widely expected{{Citation needed|reason=Where is this expectation documented?|date=May 2019}} that the Friulian ones will receive partial acknowledgement in the near future. For example, the city of [[Udine]] is called ''Udin'' in Friulian, the town of [[Tolmezzo]] ''Tumieç'' and the town of [[Aviano]] is called both ''Davian'' and ''Pleif''.

== Standardisation ==
A challenge that Friulian shares with other minority languages is to codify a standard variety and a suitable writing system. The regional law 15/1996 approved a standard orthography, which represents the basis of a common variant and should be used in toponyms, official acts, written documents. The standard is based on Central Friulian, which was traditionally the language used in literature already in 1700 and afterwards (the biggest examples are probably Pieri Çorut's works) but with some changes:
* the [[diphthong]] ''ie'' replaces ''ia'': ''fier (iron)'' instead of ''fiar'', ''tiere (soil, earth)'' instead of ''tiare''.
* the use of ''vu'' instead of ''u'' at the beginning of word: ''vueli (oil)'' instead of ''ueli '', ''vueit (empty)'' instead of ''ueit''.
* the use of ''i'' between vocals: ''ploie (rain)'' instead of ''ploe''.

Standard Friulian is called in Friulian ''furlan standard'', ''furlan normalizât'' or from [[Greek language|Greek]], ''[[Koiné language|coinè]]''.

=== Criticism ===
There have been several critics of the standardisation of Friulian, mainly from speakers of local varieties that differ substantially from the proposed standard; they also argue that the standard could eventually kill local variants. The supporters of standardisation refer to the various advantages that a unique form can bring to the language. Above all, it can help to stop the influence of [[Italian language]] in the [[neologism]]s, which pose a serious threat to Friulian's future development. They also point out that it is a written standard without affecting pronunciation, which can follow local variants.

Opponents of the standardisation, on the other hand, insist that the standard language, being artificially created, is totally inadequate to represent the local variations, particularly from differences in the phonetic pronunciation of the words in each variant that may, in some cases, even require special and different diacritics for writing a single variant.

=== Varieties of Friulian ===
At least four dialects of Friulian can be distinguished, all [[mutually intelligible languages|mutually intelligible]]. They are usually distinguished by the last vowel of many parts of speech (including nouns, adjectives, adverbs), following this scheme:
* Central Friulian, spoken around [[Udine]] has words ending with -e. It is used in official documents and generally considered standard. Some people see it as the least original but one of the most recent variants since it does not show interesting features found in other variants, as it has Venetian influence.
* Northern Friulian, spoken in [[Carnia]], has several variants. The language can vary with the valleys and words can end in -o, -e or -a. It is the most archaic variant.
* Southeastern Friulian, spoken in [[Bassa Friulana]] and Eastern Friuli, in the area along the [[Isonzo]] River (the area of the old [[Gorizia and Gradisca|Contea di Gorizia e Gradisca]]), has words that end with -a. This variant has been known since the origins of the language and was used as official literary language by the Friulians of the Austrian Empire. It was influenced by German and Slavic.
* Western Friulian, including Pordenonese, is spoken in the [[Province of Pordenone]] and is also called {{lang|fur|concordiese}}, from [[Concordia Sagittaria]]. Words end with -a or -e, but the strong Venetian influence, makes it be considered one of the most corrupted variants.

The word for ''home'' is {{lang|fur|cjase}} in Central Friulian and {{lang|fur|cjasa}} or {{lang|fur|cjaso}} in other areas. [[Pier Paolo Pasolini]] wrote his works in Western Friulian since he learned the language from his mother who was from [[Casarsa della Delizia|Casarsa/Cjasarsa]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pasolini.net/casarsa_casaPasolini.htm|title=casarsa_casa Pasolini (Colussi) a Casarsa|website=pasolini.net|access-date=17 March 2018}}</ref> near [[Pordenone]].

In the 13th century, early literary works in Friulian were based on the language spoken in Cividale del Friuli, which was the most important town in Friuli. The endings in -o, which now is restricted to some villages in [[Carnia]]. Later, the main city of [[Friuli]] became [[Udine]] and the most common ending was -a; only from the 16th century on, -e endings were used in standard Friulian.

== Writing systems ==
{{expand section|date=July 2012}}
[[File:Udine-targaUniversitatdalFriul.jpg|thumb|Sign of the [[University of Friuli]] (Universitât dâl Friûl) in Udine]]
In the official writing system, approved by the (former, abolished in 2017) [[Province of Udine]] and used in official documents, Friulian is written using the [[Latin script]] with the c-[[cedilla]] (ç). The letter q is used only for personal names and historical toponyms, and in every other case, it is replaced by c. Besides that, k, x, w, and y appear only in loan words so they are not considered part of the alphabet.
:Aa Bb Cc Çç Dd Ee Ff Gg Hh Ii Jj Ll Mm Nn Oo Pp Qq Rr Ss Tt Uu Vv Zz
There are also [[grave accent]]s (à, è, ì, ò and ù) and [[circumflex accent]]s (â, ê, î, ô, and û), which are put above the [[vowel]]s to distinguish between homophonic words or to show stress (the former) and show long vowels (the latter).

=== Other systems ===
An alternative system is called [[Faggin-Nazzi]] from the names of the scholars who proposed it. It is less common, probably also because it is more difficult for a beginner for its use of letters, such as č, that are typical of [[Slavic languages]] but seem foreign to native Italian speakers.

== Examples ==
{| class="wikitable"
|+Examples
!English
!Friulian
|-
|Hello; my name is Jack!
|{{lang|fur|Mandi, o mi clami Jacum (Jack)!}}
|-
|The weather is really hot today!
|{{lang|fur|Vuê al è propit cjalt!}}
|-
|I really have to go now; see you.
|{{lang|fur|O scugni propit lâ cumò, ariviodisi.}}
|-
|I can't go out with you tonight; I have to study.
|{{lang|fur|No pues vignî fûr cun te usgnot, o ai di studiâ.}}
|}

===[[The Fox and the Crow (Aesop)|The Fox and the Crow]] translation in Central Friulian===
{{lang|fur|La bolp e jere di gnûf famade. In chel e a viodût un corvat poiât suntun pin, ch'al tigneve un toc di formadi tal bec. "Chel si che mi plasarès!" e a pensât le bolp, e e disè al corvát: "Ce biel che tu sês! Se il to cjant al é biel come il to aspiet, di sigûr tu sês il plui biel di ducj i ucei!}}

== References ==

* Paola Benincà & Laura Vanelli. ''Linguistica friulana''. Padova: Unipress, 2005.
* Paola Benincà & Laura Vanelli. "Friulian", in ''The Oxford Guide to the Romance Languages'', eds. Adam Ledgeway & Martin Maiden. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2016, pp.&nbsp;139–53.
* Franc Fari, ed. ''Manuâl di lenghistiche furlane''. Udine: Forum, 2005.
* Giuseppe Francescato. ''Dialettologia friulana''. Udine: [[Società filologica friulana|Società Filologica Friulana]], 1966.
* Giovanni Frau. ''I dialetti del Friuli''. Udine: [[Società filologica friulana|Società Filologica Friulana]], 1984.
* Sabine Heinemann. ''Studi di linguistica friulana''. Udine: [[Società filologica friulana|Società Filologica Friulana]], 2007.
* Carla Marcato. ''Friuli-Venezia Giulia''. Rome–Bari: Laterza, 2001.
* Nazzi, Gianni & Deborah Saidero, eds. ''Friulan Dictionary: English-Friulan / Friulan-English.'' Udine: Ent. Friul tal Mond, 2000.
* Piera Rizzolati. ''Elementi di linguistica friulana''. Udine: [[Società filologica friulana|Società Filologica Friulana]], 1981.
* Paolo Roseano. ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20170630065738/http://prosodia.upf.edu/home/arxiu/publicacions/roseano/CeFastu_007_034_Roseano.pdf La pronuncia del friulano standard: proposte, problemi, prospettive]'', ''Ce Fastu?'' LXXXVI, vol. 1 (2010), p.&nbsp;7–34.
*Paolo Roseano. ''Suddivisione dialettale del friulano'', in ''Manuale di linguistica friulana'', eds. S. Heinemann & L. Melchior. Berlin: De Gruyter Mouton, 2015, pp.&nbsp;155–186.
* Federico Vicario, ed. ''Lezioni di lingua e cultura friulana''. Udine: [[Società filologica friulana|Società Filologica Friulana]], 2005.
* Federico Vicario. ''Lezioni di linguistica friulana''. Udine: Forum, 2005.
* {{Cite web |url=http://www.arlef.it/en/friulian-language/sociolinguistic-condition/5 |title=Sociolinguistic Condition |website=Regional Agency for Friulian Language |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190222132906/http://www.arlef.it/en/friulian-language/sociolinguistic-condition/5#/sociolinguistic-condition |archive-date=2019-02-22}}

=== Notations ===
{{refbegin}}
The grammar section is based on [https://web.archive.org/web/20091027074805/http://www.geocities.com/rpontisso/furlan.html An introduction to Friulan] by R. Pontisso. Some parts are also based loosely on ''Gramatiche furlane'' by Fausto Zof, Edizioni Leonardo, Udine 2002.
{{refend}}

=== Footnotes ===
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Portal|Italy|Languages}}
{{Commons category|Friulian language}}
{{InterWiki|code=fur}}
* [https://polesello.org/ Learn standard Friulian and the Dograva variant]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXQOXCGdrRk Short video showing bilingual Italian/Friulian road signs]
* [http://www.ondefurlane.eu/ Radio Onde Furlane]. ''Radio in Friulian language.''
* [http://www.arlef.it/documents/grafie-uficial-de-lenghe-furlane Grafie uficiâl de lenghe furlane — Agjenzie regjonal pe lenghe furlane (different other language resources)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110925132159/http://www.arlef.it/documents/grafie-uficial-de-lenghe-furlane |date=2011-09-25 }}
* Dante in furlan: [http://www.gutenberg.org/browse/languages/fur]
* [http://www.provincia.udine.it/Pages/default.aspx Provincie di Udin-Provincia di Udine: La lingua friulana] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110303013710/http://www.provincia.udine.it/Pages/default.aspx |date=2011-03-03 }}
* [http://www.lapatriedalfriul.org/ La Patrie dal Friûl; Magazine and News in Friulian language since 1946]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20121212234430/http://www.lenghe.net/ Lenghe.net – Online bilingual magazine in Friulian language (2004–2010)]
* [http://www.friul.net/ Online magazine and resources]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060228235418/http://www.ciemen.org/mercator/pdf/wp4-def-ang.PDF The juridical defence of Friulian (in English)]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20010422085054/http://www.geocities.com/CollegePark/Union/1702/course.html Course of Friulian]
* [http://www.siencis-par-furlan.net/ Friulian Journal of Science]&nbsp;– an association to foster the use of Friulian in the scientific world
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20000120041834/http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Styx/9982/index.htm  ''Fogolâr furlan'' of Toronto]
* [http://www.fogolar.com/ ''Fogolâr Furlan'' of Windsor]
* [http://www.filologicafriulana.it/ Societat Filologjiche Furlane]
* [https://archive.today/20121208223806/http://web.uniud.it/cirf/furlan/welcome.htm Centri interdipartimentâl pe ricercje su la culture e la lenghe dal Friûl "Josef Marchet"]
* [http://www3.sympatico.ca/rpontisso/firefoxfurlan.htm Friulian version of Firefox browser]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20180821121541/http://www.cfl2000.net/ Centri Friûl Lenghe 2000, Online bilingual dictionary (Italian/Friulian) with online tools]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060302204137/http://www.websters-online-dictionary.org/definition/Furlan-english/ Furlan English Dictionary] from [https://web.archive.org/web/20120223164907/http://www.websters-online-dictionary.org/ Webster's Online Dictionary] – [[The Rosetta Edition]]
* [http://www3.sympatico.ca/rpontisso/c-evo-furlan.html C-evo Furlan] – a computer game in Friulian
* [http://www.friul.net/dizionario_nazzi/nazzi_italiano_friulano.php Italian-Friulian Dictionary] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303035918/http://www.friul.net/dizionario_nazzi/nazzi_italiano_friulano.php |date=2016-03-03 }}
* [http://www.friul.net/multilingue/index.php Friulian-Italian-Slovenian-German-English-Spanish-French Multilingual Dictionary] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160113064653/http://www.friul.net/multilingue/index.php |date=2016-01-13 }}
* [http://starling.rinet.ru/cgi-bin/response.cgi?root=new100&morpho=0&basename=new100\ier\rom&first=0 Friulian basic lexicon at the Global Lexicostatistical Database]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110722053136/http://www.sangiorgioinsieme.it/Diz-friulan-english%20.htm Friulian-English English-Friulian dictionary] – ''uses the [[Faggin-Nazzi alphabet]]''

{{Languages of Italy}}
{{Rhaeto-Romance languages}}
{{Romance languages}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Friulian language| ]]
[[Category:Languages of Italy]]