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Part of
Contested Languages: The hidden multilingualism of Europe
Edited by Marco Tamburelli and Mauro Tosco
[Studies in World Language Problems 8] 2021
► pp. 185–198

Chapter 10
Community-based language planning

Bringing Sicilian folktales back to life

| City University of Hong Kong

In an attempt to design a proposal for sustainable language policies in peripheral communities, this chapter provides ground for applying a sustainable network of activities related to interdisciplinary, community-based language planning. Aiming beyond mere language description and documentation, the proposal revolves around the concepts of community strengthening, land valorisation, and peripheral language use. The discussion is set in the context of the Italian region of Sicily, though the format could be applicable to other communities around the world. Considering macro-dynamics such as globalisation and historical change, I provide a description of the region’s profile from a social and historical perspective, describing a plausible language planning strategy that may also bear economic impact for the area. Revolving around theatre, local resources, and community involvement, the proposal embraces social activities and local demands already present in Sicily, with the aim of making the local language less peripheral within the community itself.

Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.A reality called Sicilian
  • 3.The language hierarchy market and language planning
  • 4.Current initiatives of social development and linguistic documentation
  • 5.Bringing sicilian folktales back to life
  • 6.Conclusions
  • Notes
  • References
Published online: 21 January 2021
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/wlp.8.10mus
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