Minority Language Planning and Micronationalism in Italy: The Cases of Lombardy and Friuli

Abstract

After an introduction to the Italian linguistic situation, highlighting the remarkable number of language varieties present in Italy today, the paper goes on to review briefly the history of micronationalism in Italy, and to propose a classification of language planning based on the distinction between macro- and micronationalism. There follows a brief outline of the language planning strategies carried out in two areas of Northern Italy, one where a recognised minority language is spoken (Friuli) and the other where a language variety is spoken which is not recognised by the Italian State (Western Lombardy). The paper closes with an analysis of the role that the local micronationalist groups have had on language policy and how this seems to be affected by the level of local autonomy, and discusses how the political orientation of micronationalist groups appears to shape their commitment to the promotion of local languages in these two Italian cases.

Keywords:

• minority language planning
• micronationalism
• Western Lombardy
• Milanese
• Friuli
• Friulian