DIALECTS AS MARKERS OF REGIONAL IDENTITY IN THE CROATIAN REGION OF ISTRIA
DIALECTS AS MARKERS OF REGIONAL IDENTITY IN THE CROATIAN REGION OF ISTRIA

Author(s): Mirna Jernej Pulić, Olga Orlić
Subject(s): Sociolinguistics, Identity of Collectives
Published by: Scientia Kiadó
Keywords: dialects; regional identity; Istria; bilingual region; code-switching; receptive multilingualism; European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages;
Summary/Abstract: Istria is a multicultural region with very significant population, which puts a strong emphasis on their regional identity. At the official level, Istria is a bilingual region (Croatian – Italian), but multilingualism is a distinctive feature of its everyday reality. Based on qualitative ethnographic data, the paper explores the degree to which the local Istrian varieties, code-switching, and receptive multilingualism carry symbolic value for their speakers and play a crucial role in the formation and preservation of the authentic regional identity. Based on the results of the research, the paper re-examines the aim and applicability of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages.

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