Bergamasco

ETHNONYMS: none

The Bergamasco are a linguistically defined segment of the population of the northern Italian province of Bergamo, concentrated in the provincial capital (also called Bergamo) and its immediate surroundings. The region was territorially incorporated into the Italian state in the early 1800s, and the Bergamasco themselves are highly integrated into the society, culture, and economy of the larger region. They take pride, however, in retaining their distinct linguistic tradition. The Bergamasco language, part of the Lombard Branch of Gallo-Romance, differs greatly from standard Italian and is distinct from Lombard proper.