Gallo-Roman Dialect Classification
Abstract
This paper provides a historical overview of Gallo-Roman dialect classifications. The Gallo-Roman
language area is traditionally defined as the area where a Roman language characterized by elements
originating in its Gallic and Germanic substrate developed from Latin, leading to the dialects of Oïl, Oc
and Franco-Provençal. It covers France and parts of Belgium, Switzerland, Italy and Spain (Val d’Aran), as
well as the Channel Islands. The most important dialectological studies of Gallo-Roman are: Court de
Gébelin (1778), Coquebert de Montbret (1812, 1831), Dauzat (1927) and Bec (1970-1971). Since the end
of the 20th century, computer tools have enabled dialectometry (Goebl, 2002, 2003, 2012) to provide a
renewed vision of classification of all Roman languages.
Ce article donne un aperçu historique des classifications des dialectes gallo-romains. Les
recherches les plus importantes dans le domaine de la dialectologie isoglotique qui ont considéré le
gallo-roman dans sa globalité sont au nombre de quatre: Court de Gébelin (1778), Coquebert de
Montbret (1812; 1831), Dauzat (1927) et Bec (1970-1971). Depuis la fin du XXe siècle, les outils
informatiques ont permis à la dialectométrie (Goebl, 2002, 2003, 2012) d’offrir une vision renouvelée de
la classification de toutes les langues romanes.