Istrian Identities and Languages in Contact

Abstract

The focus of the present study is on the interdependence of language and regional identity set with the framework of language ideology and theory of practice. It is based on a quantitative investigation of the language attitudes of 1, 154 secondary students from the multicultural region of Istria, which explores their perceptions of regional and national standard varieties, and relates those perceptions to the social conditions affording status and/or solidarity value at the regional linguistic market. By investigating linguistic categorization, self-making and “ othering” within the region, as well as spatial orientations of the respondents, the present study analyzes ways used by speakers to define their sense of self and to contrast themselves with others in terms of the region and in terms of the different language varieties. The results demonstrate the correspondence among the observed evaluation patterns with the strong regional movement and multicultural orientation of Istria. The emerging regional identity is characterized linguistically by persistence of the regional codes due to their symbolic and solidarity value and by resistance against hegemony and symbolic domination of the standard language.

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