Use of Sicilian dialect by migrants in Favara

Abstract

This paper investigates the role of the Sicilian dialect within the linguistic repertoire of adult migrants living in diglossic contexts. The study compares recently immigrated foreign nationals residing in the municipality of Favara and enrolled in the Provincial Centre for Adult Education (CPIA) of Agrigento, with Romanian adults who have been living in the area for over five years. Data gathered through structured interviews show that migrants enrolled in the CPIA acknowledge the usefulness of the dialect for social inclusion, although some perceive it as more difficult than Italian. Certain variables—such as prolonged residence in the area and the use of the dialect in the workplace—appear to be strongly correlated with the acknowledgement of the dialect’s local identity value.