Corsican, known as “Corsu” in the Corsican language itself, is an Italo-Romance language spoken primarily on the Mediterranean island of Corsica, which is a territorial collectivity of France. Here are some key points about the Corsican language:

1. Classification: Corsican is a Romance language, meaning it evolved from Latin. It shares a common linguistic heritage with other Romance languages like Italian and French.

2. Geographic Distribution: Corsican is primarily spoken on the island of Corsica, but it is also spoken in some parts of Sardinia (Italy) and in Corsican diaspora communities around the world.

3. Script: Corsican uses the Latin alphabet with some additional characters, like ç and è. The script is phonetic, meaning the spelling of words closely follows their pronunciation.

4. Dialects: Within Corsican, there are several regional dialects, with differences in vocabulary, pronunciation, and grammar. The two main dialect groups are Northern Corsican (spoken in the northern part of the island) and Southern Corsican (spoken in the southern part).

5. Cultural Significance: Corsican is a crucial part of the cultural identity of the Corsican people. It is used in literature, poetry, theater, music, and other forms of cultural expression.

6. Bilingualism: Due to historical and colonial influences, many Corsican speakers are also proficient in French, which is the official language of Corsica. Bilingualism is common, particularly in formal and educational settings.

7. Legal Status: Corsican is recognized as a regional language of France and has some level of protection under French law. However, French remains the dominant language in official and formal settings.

8. Preservation Efforts: There are ongoing efforts to promote and preserve the Corsican language, particularly in education and cultural preservation initiatives. This includes language immersion programs and the creation of educational materials.