Based on an analysis of interviews (eighteen in total) conducted in Italy and Norway, this article explores how identity is (re)constructed in a new host society. It especially focuses on how the informants (‘fortunate immigrants’) define their national belonging. We discuss what status their language has for them, and whether language can be considered a symbol of that belonging. It is argued that the sociocultural context and the relationship between participants in social interaction (such as an interview) affect the responses. The divergence that emerged from the responses can be interpreted as emphasizing the differences between a multilingual and a monolingual society.
The Place of Language in (Re)constructing Identity: The Case of ‘Fortunate Immigrants’ to/from Italy
silvia camilotti
2017-01-01
Abstract
Based on an analysis of interviews (eighteen in total) conducted in Italy and Norway, this article explores how identity is (re)constructed in a new host society. It especially focuses on how the informants (‘fortunate immigrants’) define their national belonging. We discuss what status their language has for them, and whether language can be considered a symbol of that belonging. It is argued that the sociocultural context and the relationship between participants in social interaction (such as an interview) affect the responses. The divergence that emerged from the responses can be interpreted as emphasizing the differences between a multilingual and a monolingual society.
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