COSÌ VICINI COSÌ LONTANI. LA LINGUA ITALIANA IN ALBANIA, UN VIAGGIO SOCIOLINGUISTICO

Abstract

The mistaken belief that the intense relationship between the Italian language and Albania is the result of a chance television craze in the 1990s often prevails. However, the language of the beautiful country has, in fact, traversed a centuries-long path in Albania, marked by alternating perceptions and conflicting sentiments towards it. This contribution to the conference “Communication and social justice, post-colonial narrations” aims to be a sociolinguistic journey through the history of the Italian language in Albania, from the 14th to the 20th century, with a particular focus on the years of Italian protectorate, culminating in the annexation and the subsequent establishment of the Kingdom of Italy and Albania. During this period, Italian became the language of trade and investments that propelled the country towards modernity. We will also explore the years of communist dictatorship when Italian became clandestine as the language of the enemy. Finally, this postcolonial narrative will lead us to the 1990s when Dante’s language became, for this Balkan region, a language of freedom.