An analysis of short texts of Italians in Malta : language use and attitudes

Abstract

The recent migration of Italians in Malta has been documented quite extensively and research shows clearly that this is mainly linked to work opportunities available in an Anglophone setting. Most Italians settle well on the island and while adapting to the new linguistic situations they encounter, they generally remain attached to their origins and show awareness and appreciation of their L1 and their culture. This contribution is based on the data collected in 2023 via an open question that was asked at the end of a questionnaire that was carried among Italian adults residing in Malta, for which 157 responses were collected. Written responses to this question were provided by means of short texts related to Italian migrants’ experience in Malta, their identity, and their use and perception on their L1 in a migratory context as well as of the two context languages: English and Maltese. These short texts are analysed to unmask attitudes towards language contact and to the different languages used, thereby providing a more in-depth investigation of these issues with respect to previous research carried out recently.