Greek

Grecìa Salentina (Apulia): in 2015, out of about 41,500 inhabitants, some 20,500 were estimated to speak Griko, mostly older people; the language is no longer spoken in Melpignano or Soleto¹. The Mercator research centre classifies Griko as severely endangered¹. It gives no figure for the Grecanico (Greko) of Calabria, mutually intelligible with Griko but separately developed¹.

Italian Law 482/1999 (Article 2) recognises the Griko community as a Greek ethnic and linguistic minority, alongside eleven other languages¹. Italy signed the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages in 2000 without ratifying it; it has, however, ratified the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities¹.

In Salento, Griko is taught as a subject from nursery to secondary school, usually one hour a week, focusing on poetry, folklore, dance and traditions¹. The Ministry of Education's "Griko Project" introduced it in nursery, primary and lower-secondary schools of the municipalities concerned; the "Pos Màtome Griko" programme (2011) follows CEFR levels A1 to B2¹. Modern Greek has been taught systematically there since 1994, with teachers sent by the Greek Ministry of Education¹.

The "Griko Project" supported radio broadcasts in Griko and the distribution of periodicals in the language; poems and texts in Griko appear in the local press for patron saints' days¹.

The Union of the Municipalities of Grecìa Salentina, founded in 1966, promotes the language through university research, teaching and the publication of books and poetry in Griko¹.