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Who are we? Australian-Italian languages and identity across generations
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RESEARCH PROJECT: "Who are we? Australian-Italian languages and identity across generations"
An international team of researchers from the University of Western Sydney and the Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche in Italy are launching a study to identify and document some of the basic linguistic and cultural elements of Italian migrants.
Six decades after the beginning of mass migration of Italian families to Australia the team is investigating which cultural and linguistic elements of a people's Italian Regional origins remain resilient and identifiable in the first, second and third generations. The study looks at what remains, what has changed and what has been acquired in the languages and dialects used in Australian-Italian families, and how these languages contribute to the identity of individuals and families across generations.
The project looks at first and second generation Italian Australians whose linguistic origins (Italian language and local dialects) are rooted in three Italian Regions. The pilot study will involve families from Veneto (originating from the provinces of Belluno and Rovigo), families from Calabria (originating from the province of Cosenza), and families from Central Tuscany (originating from Firenze and Siena), headed by at least one parent (or both parents) from those provinces, who arrived in Australia with young children or have children born in Australia.
Families and individuals from those provinces who wish to participate and contribute to this project should contact Bruno Di Biase of the UWS Team at b.dibiase@uws.edu.auand Vincenzo Galata' of the Italian team vgalata@libero.itWhat this involves for participants is, basically, about two hours of your time to 1) answer a questionnaire on your language history and patterns of language use; 2) complete a brief oral interview; and 3) make recordings of you speaking in Italian and/or the dialect of your region in Italy. These research sessions will take place at a the MARCS Auditory laboratories Research Centre of the University at Bankstown to ensure high quality recording of your voice. Confidentiality is guaranteed.