Editing Romansh language (section)

=== Attitudes towards language contact ===
The influence of German has been seen in different ways by linguists and language activists. The Italian dialectologist Ascoli for instance described Romansh as "a body that has lost its soul and taken on an entirely foreign one in its place" in the 1880s.<ref>{{harvnb|Liver|2009|p=145}}; Original Italian: {{lang|it|"un corpo che perde l'anima sua propria per assumerne un'altra di affatto estranea"}}</ref> This opinion was shared by many, who saw the influence of German as a threat to and corruption of Romansh, often referring to it as a disease infecting Romansh.{{sfn|Coray|2008}} This view was prevalent until after World War II, with many contemporary linguists and activists by contrast seeing these loan elements as completely natural and as an integral part of Romansh,{{sfn|Coray|2008|p=355}} which should be seen as an enrichment of the language.{{sfn|Liver|1999|p=175}} This position is currently held among others by the language activists Bernard Cathomas, Iso Camartin, or Alexi Decurtins, who argue for a relaxed attitude towards loan elements, which they point out are often among the most down-to-earth elements of the language, and that the dual nature of Romansh can also be seen as an advantage in being open to cultural elements from both sides.{{sfn|Liver|2009|p=145}} This position is also shared by several contemporary authors in particular from the Surselva, such as [[Arno Camenisch]], who makes heavy use of Germanisms in his works.