Discovering the Savoyard dialect of Montvalezan
History of the Montvalezan Dialect
The Montvalezan dialect has been spoken for centuries. It was the main language of the village, and back then, people went to school to learn French, a foreign language that was (almost) unknown to the locals. This is what Firmin Gaide, a longtime resident of the village, tells us. “My father went to school to learn French. As for me, I was spoken to in both languages at home.”
This dialect is typical of the valley and the surrounding mountains, with accents and certain words that differ. “When we went to the market in Bourg-Saint-Maurice on Saturday mornings, we all understood each other, but we could recognize the accents. […] We could understand each other all the way to Albertville.”
Today, the Montvalezan dialect is gradually being lost. According to Firmin Gaide, fewer than 10 people speak it and only about 20 people understand it in the village.
The Language: The Montvalezan Dialect
This local dialect was not a written language: it was passed down solely through oral tradition within the region. More recently, events have been organized to celebrate this linguistic heritage, culminating in the publication of the book “The Montvalezan Dialect – La Rosière”, initiated by Firmin Gaide. The author devoted ten years to its completion, a long-term endeavor. Steeped in history, the book’s cover is illustrated by the golden eagle of the Duke of Savoy, a powerful symbol of this heritage.
Pronunciation peculiarities:
- “que” is always written with a “k” → the letter “q” does not exist
- “ä” is a sound between “a” and “o” → it is a very common sound
- “ïn” is pronounced “ing” -> identical to the sound in “parking”
- “oun” is a sound that experts call a “back nasalized sound”; it does not exist in French.
- The apostrophe “ ‘ ” can be mentally replaced with an “e” to help with understanding
- “eur” is always pronounced like the sound in “heureux”
- “y” is pronounced ‘ill’
The dialect is characterized by numerous stressed syllables, meaning a particular emphasis on a syllable within the word. Unlike in French, intonation plays an essential role in comprehension here. In writing, this stressed syllable is often highlighted with an underscore. For example: mama means “mom.”
Now that you have the basics, let’s get down to business and discover together the local expressions of La Rosière.
Expressions:
- Rèpä d’äno: donkey meal—a meal where you don’t drink; donkeys drink very little while eating.
- Oun pou pä avèr lo fin è l’êrba: you can’t have your cake and eat it too.
- Tsêt’ è tsïn, movê vijïn: cats and dogs, bad neighbors.
- Ki tsêrtsé na reuza, trovè na beuza: whoever looks for a rose finds a pile of manure.
- èy vä miu êsrè mula a Montmélian kè vatsé à Molézan : it’s better to be a mule in Montmélien (to work) than a cow in Montvalezan (the conditions for women in the mountains were much harsher).
- Alär droumi komè lè dzilinè: to go to sleep like the chickens (early)
- Droumi komè na marmôta: to sleep like a marmot (a lot)
- y-è pä lo matïn dè la fèyra k’oun ingrächè soun pouér : it’s not on the morning of the fair that you fatten your pig.
- Ki a pä boun êsprit’, a bouna piôta : he who has no good head has good legs
- êsrè su soun trintchoun : to be dressed to the nines (to be wearing one’s finest clothes.)
The municipality and the Montvalezan dialect today
It is clear, then, that these expressions are deeply rooted in the way of life of days gone by. Since then, the town of Montvalezan has undergone a profound transformation. The opening of the La Rosière ski resort in 1964 marked the arrival of tourism in the region and the emergence of a new economic dynamic.
The challenges today are no longer the same: the local economy has diversified, many jobs have been created, and the region now lives in tune with the ski resort’s tourist seasons. In the past, the population lived mainly from livestock farming and pastoralism, and later some people worked on major construction projects such as the Tignes dams. Today, the economy relies primarily on tourism, with a few rare agricultural or pastoral activities still preserved.
Yes, but very few. Today, only a handful of residents in Montvalezan still speak the local dialect fluently. This linguistic heritage is gradually disappearing, although several initiatives are working to preserve the traditions and expressions of La Rosière.
Yes. The book Le patois de Montvalezan – La Rosière, written by Firmin Gaide, traces the expressions, pronunciation, and history of this unique linguistic heritage of the valley.
In addition to skiing and mountain activities, La Rosière offers visitors the chance to explore Savoyard heritage through its villages, local specialties, chapels, historic trails, and the traditions of the Haute-Tarentaise region.
Please contact the tourist office to find out about all the activities available depending on the season!