Language decline and death in three ArbeÌresh communities in Italy : a sociolinguistic study
This study explores the problems of language shift on the example of ArbĂ"resh, spoken by groups of Albanians who have migrated to the South of Italy in different waves since the 15<sup>th</sup> century. Three ArbĂ"resh speaking communities â Campomarino, Portocannone and Ururi â form the focus of the sociolinguistic study, aiming to give a picture of the vitality of ArbĂ"resh. It was analysed from the perspective of the ArbĂ"resh speakersâ competence and their attitudes towards ArbĂ"resh. From the analysis of the quantitative and qualitative data collected, an overwhelming decline of ArbĂ"resh can be observed. This decline has nearly reached its final stage in Campomarino; in the other two villages, a proficiency continuum emerges, where the relation between the ArbĂ"resh speakers and their competence and use is determined by their age: competence and use increase together with the speakersâ age. Some elements of revitalization can be found in the linguistic minoritiesâ status under the recent Italian law 482/1999. According to the law, the language of the minority groups can be used in formal domains and in schools.Â  However, what creates a problem for the ArbĂ"resh people is that it is standard
Perta, Carmela
Language decline and death in three ArbeÌresh communities in Italy : a sociolinguistic study. This study explores the problems of language shift on the example of ArbĂ"resh, spoken by groups of Albanians who have migrated to the South of Italy in different waves since the 15<sup>th</sup> century. Three ArbĂ"resh speaking communities â Campomarino, Portocannone and Ururi â form the focus of the sociolinguistic study, aiming to give a picture of the vitality of ArbĂ"resh. It was analysed from the perspective of the ArbĂ"resh speakersâ competence and their attitudes towards ArbĂ"resh. From the analysis of the quantitative and qualitative data collected, an overwhelming decline of ArbĂ"resh can be observed. This decline has nearly reached its final stage in Campomarino; in the other two villages, a proficiency continuum emerges, where the relation between the ArbĂ"resh speakers and their competence and use is determined by their age: competence and use increase together with the speakersâ age. Some elements of revitalization can be found in the linguistic minoritiesâ status under the recent Italian law 482/1999. According to the law, the language of the minority groups can be used in formal domains and in schools.Â  However, what creates a problem for the ArbĂ"resh people is that it is standard
language decline death community italy sociolinguistic_study study_explore problem language_shift example speak group migrate south italy different wave since speaking community form focus sociolinguistic_study aim give picture vitality analyse perspective speaker competence attitude_towards analysis quantitative_qualitative data_collect overwhelm decline observe decline nearly reach final_stage village proficiency continuum emerge relation speaker competence use determine age competence use increase together speaker age element revitalization find linguistic minority status recent italian law according law language minority_group use formal domain however create problem people standard