This series offers a wide forum for work on contact linguistics, using an integrated approach to both diachronic and synchronic manifestations of contact, ranging from social and individual aspects to structural-typological issues. Topics covered by the series include child and adult bilingualism and multilingualism, contact languages, borrowing and contact-induced typological change, code switching in conversation, societal multilingualism, bilingual language processing, and various other topics related to language contact. The series does not have a fixed theoretical orientation, and includes contributions from a variety of approaches.

This series offers a wide forum for work on contact linguistics, using an integrated approach to both diachronic and synchronic manifestations of contact, ranging from social and individual aspects to structural-typological issues. Topics covered by the series include child and adult bilingualism and multilingualism, contact languages, borrowing and contact-induced typological change, code switching in conversation, societal multilingualism, bilingual language processing, and various other topics related to language contact. The series does not have a fixed theoretical orientation, and includes contributions from a variety of approaches.

This white paper is part of a series that promotes knowledge about language technology and its potential. It addresses educators, journalists, politicians, language communities and others. The availability and use of language technology in Europe varies between languages. Consequently, the actions that are required to further support research and development of language technologies also differ for each language. The required actions depend on many factors, such as the complexity of a given language and the size of its community. META-NET, a Network of Excellence funded by the European Commission, has conducted an analysis of current language resources and technologies. This analysis focused on the 23 official European languages as well as other important national and regional languages in Europe. The results of this analysis suggest that there are many significant research gaps for each language. A more detailed expert analysis and assessment of the current situation will help maximise the impact of additional research and minimize any risks. META-NET consists of 54 research centres from 33 countries that are working with stakeholders from commercial businesses, government agencies, industry, research organisations, software companies, technology providers and European universities. Together, they are creating a common technology vision while developing a strategic research agenda that shows how language technology applications can address any research gaps by 2020.

This pamphlet is dedicated to those English-speaking lovers of Italian who believe that the integrity of the most beautiful language in the world should not be surrendered to the vagaries of Anglo-American jargon.It is almost impossible to calculate how many words there are in any language. The only practical way is to try to identify those words that are considered fundamental and of these, those that are more commonly used. It has been calculated that the Italian language has about 260,000 fundamental words. Of these, 10,000 are generally known but only 2,000 are used on a daily basis.The percentage of foreign, mainly American-English, terms used by present-day Italians is said to vary between 1.7% and 8% of the total words in the Italian dictionary; no assessment has been made of what the percentage is of the 2,000 words in common use...One does not have to be a mathematical genius to draw a moral from these figures...!If, as this essay aims to show, the Italian language is sick, the fault is ours, the Italians'. We must suffer from the same malady; after all, language is but a tool to communicate, make ourselves understood, and express our views, our desires. It is us.We, the Italians, wallow in an orgy of self-deprecation and linguistic masochism, which are an offence to our dignity and traditions and neglectful of the language of art, music, food and style.Arturo Barone is a retired solicitor, born in London of Neapolitan parents. He completed his studies in Italy where he took his first Law Degree. In this booklet he considers, with a highly critical eye, the deterioration in the use of the most beautiful language in the world as a result of the influence of English and American terms and expressions.He records the circumstances in which the impact of American and English 'culture' have developed at an ever-increasing pace since the end of the Second World War, reaching the conclusion that neither has been linguistically beneficial for Italy; more particularly, he considers the consequences that the indiscriminate abuse of an alien manner of speaking has had on the psyche of the average Italian.He maintains that his compatriots are oblivious both to the linguistic and to the psychological detriment of accepting as normal, if not desirable, the use of English and American words.

This book examines the interrelation between language and society in contemporary Italy. It aims to provide an up to date account of linguistic diversity, social variation, special codes and language varieties within Italian society, and in situations of language contact both within and outside Italy.

This book explores the effects of the global spread of English by reporting on a sequential explanatory mixed-methods study of the language attitudes, motivation and self-perceived English proficiency of youth in two Italian cities. Participant narratives highlight the far-reaching role that English plays on the performance and attainment of present and desired future selves, illustrate that English is understood not as singular but as plural and paradoxical, and reveal that English learners, who do not all accept the capital of ‘native’ speakers, utilize tactics to negotiate their position(s) with respect to their target language. On the one hand, by narrowing in on a specific population and drawing extensively on interview exchanges, this work provides readers with a nuanced depiction of the identities, milieu and learning experiences of English language learners in Italy. On the other hand, this level of detailed analysis gives insight into the understandings, construction of meaning and negotiations of language learners who need and want to acquire English, the global language, worldwide. Indeed, the issues and questions that are raised in this book, such as those concerning research approaches and the definitions assigned to key concepts, have profound implications on the research of English(es) today and can inform future directions in global English teaching.

This pamphlet is dedicated to those English-speaking lovers of Italian who believe that the integrity of the most beautiful language in the world should not be surrendered to the vagaries of Anglo-American jargon. It is almost impossible to calculate how many words there are in any language. The only practical way is to try to identify those words that are considered fundamental and of these, those that are more commonly used. It has been calculated that the Italian language has about 260,000 fundamental words. Of these, 10,000 are generally known but only 2,000 are used on a daily basis. The percentage of foreign, mainly American-English, terms used by present-day Italians is said to vary between 1.7% and 8% of the total words in the Italian dictionary; no assessment has been made of what the percentage is of the 2,000 words in common use... One does not have to be a mathematical genius to draw a moral from these figures...! If, as this essay aims to show, the Italian language is sick, the fault is ours, the Italians'. We must suffer from the same malady; after all, language is but a tool to communicate, make ourselves understood, and express our views, our desires. It is us. We, the Italians, wallow in an orgy of self-deprecation and linguistic masochism, which are an offence to our dignity and traditions and neglectful of the language of art, music, food and style. Arturo Barone is a retired solicitor, born in London of Neapolitan parents. He completed his studies in Italy where he took his first Law Degree. In this booklet he considers, with a highly critical eye, the deterioration in the use of the most beautiful language in the world as a result of the influence of English and American terms and expressions. He records the circumstances in which the impact of American and English 'culture' have developed at an ever-increasing pace since the end of the Second World War, reaching the conclusion that neither has been linguistically beneficial for Italy; more particularly, he considers the consequences that the indiscriminate abuse of an alien manner of speaking has had on the psyche of the average Italian. He maintains that his compatriots are oblivious both to the linguistic and to the psychological detriment of accepting as normal, if not desirable, the use of English and American words.