In the land of the four-language place-name sign

The Kanaltal/Valcanale in north-eastern Italy has long been shaped by German, Slovenian, Friulian and Italian languages and cultures, yet this multilingual heritage remains only partly visible in public life. This article explores how local initiatives – from four-language place-name signs to German courses and new multilingual school projects – are helping to strengthen the valley’s minority languages. It also examines how attitudes towards linguistic diversity have changed and why multilingualism is increasingly seen as an asset for younger generations and the future of this depopulating border region.