Wisconsin Walloon PRESERVING A CULTURE THROUGH LANGUAGE Student Researchers: Madeline Tautges, Bobbi Freagon | Department of Languages, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Faculty Supervisor: Dr. Kelly Biers

WHAT IS WALLOON ? PREVIOUS RESEARCH CURRENT RESEARCH CONT . Walloon is one of four spoken languages native Colet (1982) examines the phonetic, lexical, The project has partnered with the Belgian to southern Belgium. Walloon was primarily morphologic and syntactic differences Heritage Center, an organization aimed to spoken in the region known as Wallonia. between Belgian and Wisconsin Walloon. One preserve the unique history and culture of notable difference that Colet found was the Walloons in Wisconsin. This partnership has In the US, Walloon is spoken in an area use of short and long vowel sounds . In Belgian provided opportunities to interact and engage approximately 100 square miles in Northeast Walloon, two short and two long vowel with community members while sharing Wisconsin. The language fell out of use as sounds are used, while in Wisconsin Walloon cultural resources. speakers were discouraged from using it in the two short vowel sounds have been school. The number of current speakers is reduced to one. Project plans for the next few months include estimated as being between 30 and 50, but not submitting abstracts to potential conferences more than 100. Unlike modern day Belgian and journals which are focused on language Walloon, which has been influenced by French, Belgian Walloon: preservation and documentation. This will help Wisconsin Walloon has remained relatively to establish contacts within this field, unchanged. Wisconsin Walloon: benefiting both this project and the Wisconsin Walloon community. A standardized writing Aside from Colet’s work, there have been system for the language will be created and dictionaries compiled, speakers recorded, and presented to the community. stories and plays written. These documents Wallonia are currently housed in the UW-Green Bay LANGUAGE REVITALIZATION archives. Colet’s research, however, remains Language revitalization is a long term process the most detailed and thorough comparison that seeks to save dead or dying languages for of Wisconsin and Belgian Walloon. future generations. With the death of a Image courtesy of Wikipedia Commons Image courtesy of Google Maps language, the culture that spoke it loses a part CURRENT RESEARCH of their heritage and tradition. The HISTORY revitalization and preservation of dying This stage of the project has included making From 1852 to 1858, between 5,000 and 7,000 languages is an integral part of keeping cultures contact with speakers of Wisconsin Walloon alive. families from Wallonia departed Belgium and who still reside near the peninsula where the emigrated to America. Farming was the main Walloons first settled, meeting those speakers, occupation of these families. Due to and recording conversations in Walloon inadequate farming and living conditions, between two or more of those speakers. Many famine and disease crippled the working class. of these contacts were made at the Brussels While food prices soared, wages remained the Kermiss Festival, a cultural celebration of the same. harvest held each fall.

Upon arrival in Wisconsin, the Walloons faced Lesson plans that aim to educate elementary Image courtesy of Lizzy Ehrenberg Image courtesy of Madeline Tautges several years of extreme poverty and sickness. and secondary aged students about the history ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS As an extra source of income in the winter they of Wisconsin Walloon and the importance of We thank the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs produced wooden shingles, the money from language preservation have been created and which went to buy cattle, farming equipment for funding our research and the Department of shared with the Door Peninsula School District. Languages for their support. and provisions. Eventually the settlers were It is anticipated that these lessons will be able to build roads, schools, churches and integrated into school curriculum in the near A full bibliography can be found in the handout provided. shops, which brought new industries to the future. area.

We thank the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs for supporting this research, and Learning & Technology Services for printing this poster.