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Why has the Italian language never taken ground in the Italian diaspora?

July 14, 2010 - 7:55 am 5 Comments

Why is it that in most Italian communities outside of Italy, the Italian language quickly dies out? What is the reason for this? Italians are so close-knit and we always so proud of being Italian. Even in USA you see all the proud Italians….but how did the language die out like that?

I find it very disappointing as well that in a country like Argentina where over half the population is Italian that the Italian language never gained any sort of importance.

All other diasporas speak their languages

Because italian people tend to blend fast in the country where they go plus as italian language is not very used abroad they tend to teach the local language to the childrend

Posted language population |

5 Responses to “Why has the Italian language never taken ground in the Italian diaspora?”

  1. THE STUDLIEST Says:
    July 14th, 2010 at 1:10 pm

    Italian imigrants in the U.S. chose to learn English in order to assimilate. During the 1940’s it was practically a crime to speak Italian.

    My grandparents imigrated from Italy. I am currently taking Italian in school. It would be great if more people did too.
    References :

  2. Ice Cold Says:
    July 14th, 2010 at 1:48 pm

    I have to agree with the first person. My great grandparents also immigrated to America, and at that time, the stereotypes and name calling, were quite severe. They also desperately WANTED to adopt the persona of their NEW country, and to that end,….made the effort to learn IT’S language, rather than protract the use of their OWN. They also changed their VERY Italian last name, shortening it, to be more AMERICAN. When my grandmother married, she met a man named Boggiano, and she was happy to marry him under one condition ONLY. There was no way in HELL, she was taking BACK an Italian last name. She insisted they used HER , shortened, Americanized maiden name, which was VERY strange for an Italian male to agree to in those days, but he did it for her. There were also racial prejudices in those days, in terms of getting jobs, so the name change was to their benefit. There could have been very similiar reasons in other countries as well. And in all fairness, you will find no shortage of Italians in New York, in Little Italy, who speak fluent Italian. In fact, some, barely speak English. I took family there once, they were stunned so many waiters and restaurant owners, were only too HAPPY to speak to them in Italian. They were wonderfully surprised that so many people spoke Italian in New York and knew Italy like the backs of their hands.
    References :

  3. Munch VIII Says:
    July 14th, 2010 at 1:57 pm

    the italian spoken nowday in italy is a recent language, italy was unified only in 1861, only with the public television from the 1950’s the italian language was standardized, and all italian people began to speak the same language.

    migrants in america spoke their own regional dialect,
    when i went in USA next to me on the plane there is a couple of old italian americans, it was very funny listen them speaking their strange idiom, very funny accent that in italy doesn’t exist, they look like gangster from a hollywood movie about mafia
    References :

  4. Simona . Says:
    July 14th, 2010 at 2:31 pm

    I always wondered why the italian language almost desappeared abroad.
    Just like you I always wondered WHY!!
    But some people here justa answered to you, because at that time the prejudice was very strong, and the immigrants came to a point where they feel ashamed of their oigins, to be italian.
    Because of mafia, because of the fascism (some peole identify italian with fascist), because they’re very poor, because of the way the speaked and they gesticulated, they were mocked…and so on!!
    But I know that inside of them they were very proud to be italian, theys loved and love their country, they just couldn’t "show" it!!
    But infortunately the result is that today most of italo-americans (I don’t know if I wrote it correctly) doesn’t speak a word in italian.
    And it is a shame!!!

    I am veryyyyy proud to be italian and I love my country so much!

    P.S. Sorry or my bad english, but I dont’ speak and write in english since a long time…
    References :
    I am italian, living in Milan

  5. Lara Says:
    July 14th, 2010 at 3:08 pm

    Because italian people tend to blend fast in the country where they go plus as italian language is not very used abroad they tend to teach the local language to the childrend
    References :

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