Ethnogenesis and ethnolinguistic vitality of the Brigaschi minority in the upper Tanaro Valley (Italian Alps)

The Italian Alps are home to at least seven ethnolinguistic minorities. Although institutionally recognised, some remain largely unknown, and their language is vanishing due to major socio-economic shifts. In this paper, I introduce the Brigaschi, a transborder ethnolinguistic minority associated with the so-called ‘Tèra Brigašca’ between Italy and France, where the engagement of external individuals decisively contributed to the emergence of a collective consciousness. However, results suggest that the ethnolinguistic vitality of the group, primarily manifesting through expressions of symbolic ethnicity in the cultural landscape, might not be enough to sustain their culture over time.