Dialects and standard language: the language education of the italians living in Italy, and contexts of immigration (1861-2015)

Abstract

This paper aims to present the relationship existent between the standard Italian language, and the dialects used both in the language education of Italians living in Italy, and of Italians living in Brazil, to where they emigrated in search of better opportunities from the middle of the century XIX. This relationship is analyzed under the prism of different political and educational measures sanctioned by both countries, which somehow represent a subjective position on the language concept. Initially, the analysis was focused on how unstable such a relationship has been in Italy, varying from phases of great antagonism to phases of cooperation, since the dialects were used as a complementary tool in the teaching/learning process of the standard Italian language. Secondly, the analysis was focused on how this same relationship happened in the immigration context, particularly with regards to Brazil, where the Italian language and its dialects were mixed with Portuguese. Our conclusion offers an overview on the current stage, and the perspectives for the teaching of the Italian language both in Italy and in Brazil.

Keywords

• Italiano
• Dialetos
• Educação linguística
• Política linguística
• Política educacional