Panini Comics celebrates the dialect of Rome.
A special edition comic book celebrating the Romanesco dialect through the stories of Mickey Mouse (Topolino) was unveiled this week at the Romics comic festival in Rome.
The book is the latest in a series of dialect-themed Topolino publications by Panini Comics which has previously released editions featuring other Italian regional languages, news outlet RomaToday reports.
The aim of the new Topolino initiative is the valorisation of Romanesco as a living dialect, with the translation entrusted to Daniele Baglioni, a professor of Italian dialectology and history of the Italian language.
The book contains two stories: Paperugantino – Commedia in due atti by Marco Gervasio, whose central character blends Donald Duck (Paperino) with Roman folklore character Rugantino; and Topolino e il ponte sull’oceano, written by Alessandro Sisti and illustrated by Marco Gervasio.
The volume also includes an editorial feature on Roman folklore and a preface by actress Sabrina Ferilli, who underlines the cultural importance of dialects, stating: “Over the course of my career I have never hidden from Rome and its language”.
The Romics festival takes place at the Fiera di Roma from 9-12 April, and the new comic book goes on general sale in comic stores, bookshops and on the Panini.it website from 16 April.
Italy celebrates National Day of Dialect and Local Languages every year on 17 January.
