LANGUAGE POLICY OF THE ITALIAN REPUBLIC (THE CASE OF CAMPANIA AND CALABRIA)

Since unification, Italy has pursued a policy of constructing a unified national identity, with the Italian language as a key component. At the same time, the linguistic situation in Italy is highly diverse due to historical reasons. For example, the use of regional dialects—central to regional identity—is widespread. The state’s language policy, as part of its identity politics and aligned with its goals, aims to create linguistic uniformity and replace dialects with standard Italian. This political course contradicts the needs of regional identity, for which dialects are of great value. This article examines how the language policy of the Italian Republic addresses this contradiction, using the cases of the southern regions of Campania and Calabria, where, according to the Italian Institute of Statistics, dialects are most often used in everyday communication. The goals and objectives proclaimed in regional legislation regulating language policy are compared with actual measures taken by regional authorities to protect and support local dialects. The article underlines the role of language activism in promoting regional idioms. It concludes that, although regional policy includes official statements on protecting dialects, in the absence of active promotion it coincides with the state’s goal of creating a unified linguistic space.