Profiling linguistic and sociological diversity in the Italian global context. Minority and regional languages and communities in migration areas

The project focuses on the study of some communities of Italian origin abroad, with the aim of assessing the degree of sociolinguistic vitality of the group’s code of emigrants, also with the broader sociological objective of reconstructing the personal relationship networks established by the emigrants in the territories where they settled. In particular, the Research Unit of the University for Foreigners of Perugia will focus on two communities from Lucca: one in San Francisco and one in the rural area surrounding the city. Specifically, the sociological analysis of the emigrant communities will allow for the reconstruction of the sociocultural characteristics of the communities and the personal social networks created by the emigrants in the settlement areas.

This information, correlated with data on sociolinguistic vitality, will make it possible to outline and potentially reveal significant correlations between social dynamics and linguistic dynamics in action in the communities under study. Among the communities investigated, one, chosen due to particular characteristics that emerged from the empirical data collected, will be the subject of a more in-depth sociological analysis. This analysis will be structured on three levels: i. identity-attitudinal, regarding personal migration history and that of previous generations; it also refers to the points of cultural and social contact with the community of origin and the family’s country of origin, to feelings and attitudes toward the community of origin, and possible identification with its cultural and artistic expressions and objects; ii. relational, both inside and outside the community, to detect the exchange of useful information for daily life, mutual support, sociability; iii. inclusion, referring to indicators such as socio-economic and cultural status, residential location, and the cultural reworking of past and present identities of belonging.