Lotte per l'egemonia: Un approccio comparativo alla politica linguistica in Norvegia e in Italia

Translated title of the contribution: Struggling for Hegemony: A Comparative Approach to the Politics of Language in Norway and in Italy

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

The political agitation in Norway for Bokmål on one side and for Nynorsk on the other has featured elements of both nationalism and social consciousness. In addition to the movements promoting these two standards, there are sub-factions within each of the campaigns, as well as the campaign for Samnorsk, a standard aiming to unite the two official variants. Here, the development of the politics of language in Norway is examined in comparison with elements of Italian language history.

The analysis of these two cultures is informed by Antonio Gramsci’s theory of hegemony, shedding light on the potential applicability of Gramscian philosophy not only to the history of his native Sardinia or Italy, but also to geographically distant contexts such as that of Norway. Particular attention is paid to the last half-century, during which different political movements in these two countries have attempted to get involved in language activism in order to promote their own ideologies. In 1970s Norway, for example, the AKP (m-l) party attempted
to find space for Stalin’s linguistic theories in the Norwegian language debate. In Italy, meanwhile, regionalist parties such as the Lega Nord (Northern League) have made use of dialects and local languages. This is highlighted with reference to the Lega campaign to introduce place-names in the local dialect on road signs within the linguistic landscape of Northern Italy. Also in Arctic Norway multilingual road signs have been an arena for the contestation of linguistic hegemony when Sámi place-names were introduced on signs in certain municipalities. Through the comparisons made, certain divergences become apparent between the aims of the various language campaigns and activist movements.
Translated title of the contributionStruggling for Hegemony: A Comparative Approach to the Politics of Language in Norway and in Italy
Original languageItalian
Title of host publicationL'uso della storia nelle letterature nordiche. Le lingue nordiche fra storia e attualità
EditorsMassimo Ciaravolo, Andrea Meregalli
Place of PublicationMilan
PublisherCisalpino
Pages405-425
Publication statusPublished - 2011

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