Topolino Returns to Speaking in Dialect: A Celebration of Italy’s Linguistic Diversity
Following the success of previous issues, the weekly Topolino is once again publishing in dialect. To commemorate the National Day of Dialect and Local Languages on January 17th, issue 3660 will be available in four special versions, each featuring the story “Donald Duck polisher at home” translated into a different dialect: Bolognese, Genoese, Catanzaro, and Franco-Provençal Aosta Valley.
A Unique Initiative to Promote Linguistic Heritage
The story, written by Vito Stabile and illustrated by Francesco D’Ippolito, will be distributed in different regions according to their linguistic competence. The Italian version will be available in other regions, while all versions can be found in comic shops, on Panini.it, and through Primaedicola.it. A special cover created by Andrea Freccero has also been dedicated to the project.
To ensure the accuracy and authenticity of the dialect translations, Panini Comics collaborated with a team of linguists, led by Riccardo Regis, a full professor of Italian Linguistics at the University of Turin. The team included experts from various regions, such as Daniele Vitali and Roberto Serra from Bologna, Stefano Lusito from Genoa, Michele Cosentino from Catanzaro, and Fabio Armand from the Aosta Valley.
A Celebration of Italy’s Cultural Heritage
According to Alex Bertani, editorial director of Mickey Mouse, this initiative has become a paradigmatic example of how comics and pop culture can play a significant role in transmitting cultural heritage. By using a direct and immediate language, comics can communicate with young people and promote the importance of preserving linguistic diversity.
For more information on this unique initiative, visit Here to learn more about Topolino’s dialect editions and the importance of preserving Italy’s linguistic heritage.