The diversity of the holiday in Graubünden has multiple roots. One of the most important is the language, as Graubünden is the only trilingual canton of Switzerland. Among the population living in Graubünden, 68 percent speak German, 15 percent Romansh, 10 Italian, and the remaining 7 percent use other languages. Romansh is only spoken in Graubünden with five different idioms and a written language known as "Rumantsch Grischun", which was created 1982. Since 1996, Romansh is also an official language of the Confederation (designation for the Swiss state).

German language area
Around two thirds of the Graubünden population use German as its main language. In particular, we can roughly identify the following German-speaking areas: Walser German is spoken in the Rheinwald, in Vals, Safien, in Schanfigg with Arosa, in Prättigau with Klosters, Davos and in the enclave of Obersaxen. The Graubünden German with the typical open vowels is found in Chur, the Rhine Valley in Chur and in the adjacent former Roman territories. Finally, Samnaun locals speak a Tyrolean-Bavarian dialect.

Romansh language area
The Roman language area alone is a feast for linguists. It is divided into different regions and five idioms. The Lower Engadine and Val Müstair traditionally belong to the catchment area of Vallader, Puter is spoken in the Upper Engadine, in the Graubünden Oberland Sursilvan, in Domleschg and Schams Sutsilvan and in Oberhalbstein and AlbulatalSurmiran.

Italian language area
The four southern valleys of Graubünden where Italian is spoken are referred to as "Grigioniitaliani". This includes the Misox (Italian of Val Mesolcina), the Calancatal (Italian of Val Calanca), the Bergell (Italian of Val Bregaglia) and the Puschlav (Italian of Valtellina). These areas are characterized by a distinct linguistic autonomy and by various local dialects.

The three languages are one of the key features of Graubünden. To maintain such diversity, Romansh and Italian as minority languages require a special promotion. The efforts of the cantons culminated in the Languages Act of 2008, designed to strengthen the three languages as an essential characteristic of the canton. The ultimate goal was to increase the awareness of the multilingual cantons and to preserve and promote Romansh and Italian languages. Nowadays, multilingualism is also present in schools and the administration. Until the mid 2000s, textbooks were published in seven languages, namely German and Italian and all five Romansch written dialects. Since then, however, the school curriculum is only published in "Rumantsch Grischun".

For more information about the Romansh language

Lia Rumantscha: Umbrella organization for all Romansh
Romanesque dictionary
Language learning programs for the Romansh language
Pro Grigioni: Umbrella organization of all Italian speakers in the Grisons