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- Title
La romaní in Italia tra rappresentazione e legittimazione.
- Authors
Scala, Andrea
- Abstract
The article reflects on the dynamics connected with representation (including self-representation) and legitimation of Romani in Italy. Romani communities are settled in Italy since the early modern era and, therefore, Romani speakers of old settlement in Italy are all Italian citizens, but they are divided in many groups, which differ considerably from one another. They have different self-representation and show different linguistic repertoires. In any case Romani is spoken in Italy by many thousands of Italian citizens and the Law No. 482/1999 regarding minority languages does not include Romani among the minority languages to be protected and enhanced. This exclusion finds its roots primarily in an erroneous representation of the Romani communities, perceived as nomadic communities; in fact they are no more nomadic at all. The situation of Romani language and of its speakers in Italy is however rather complex. Romani is spoken in Italy by many people, but not by all Roma and Sinti groups and it is highly differentiated in many Romani dialects, sometime not mutually intelligible. This intricate landscape together with the distorted representation of Romani speakers that is found among non-Romani Italian citizens makes complex any step in the path towards a national legitimation, which however remains an important civil right. A recent regional law enacted by the Regional Council of Calabria recognizes the Romani minority and its linguistic specificity. This fact suggests the possibility that local and not national laws can be a more suitable tool to legitimate and protect Romani in Italy.
- Publication
Language Problems & Language Planning, 2020, Vol 44, Issue 3, p346
- ISSN
0272-2690
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1075/lplp.00070.sca