Mapping immigrant languages in Italy

The book, edited by the author of the present chapter and Guus Extra, focuses on linguistic diversity. Within the European context, linguistic diversity can be studied at the level of both official state languages and non-national languages, in terms of both regional and immigrant languages. The chapter focuses on mapping linguistic diversity in Italy, and methodological issues and empirical outcomes are explored for these languages. In particular, by focusing on how migrant group languages enter into the Italian linguistic space, and on the effects this has on that linguistic space, the aim is to analyse the data collected with respect to these processes to verify the hypothesis that these languages may constitute a factor that restores space and vitality to Italy’s longstanding plurilingualism, rejuvenating it by adding new elements of plurilingualism. The paper presents the results of the research carried out at Centre of Excellence - Permanent Observatory of Immigrant Languages in Italy and of the spread of Italian language in the world - established by MIUR at the Università per Stranieri in Siena.