REGIONAL IDENTITY AND DIALECT IN ABRUZZO (ITALY)

Rosangela Libertini
Catholic University, Ružomberok, Slovakia

Irina I. Chelysheva
Institute of Linguistics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Russian Federation

Abstract

The article deals with the issue of the regional identity of the Abruzzo region in central Italy with Abruzzo dialect as a factor that shapes it. In the same way as elsewhere in Italy, Abruzzo’s regional identity complements the actual Italian national and ethnic identity. Abruzzo is a region of natural, cultural and linguistic diversity reflected in the profile of the regional identity. Folk memory keeps as crucial landmarks such major historic events as dewatering of Lake Fucino, the earthquake of 1915, the Second World War combat. These events affected both the life of the population and the position of the dialect. The memories of the events are supported in literary works mostly written in the dialect. Nowadays, although the scope and use of the dialect have diminished, its value as a part of the ethnic self-awareness is on the increase. In addition, there is an emerging trend to overcome the disintegration of the local patois and to form a regional koine.

Keywords: National and regional identity, Italian language, dialects of Italy, dialect of Abruzzo

For citation: Libertini R., Chelysheva I.I. Regional identity and dialect in Abruzzo (Italy). Sociolinguistics, 2020, no. 4(4) [online], pp. 103–115. (In Russ.)

DOI:10.37892/2713-2951-2020-4-4-103-115