Italian as Jargon? A Case Study of an American Family

Abstract

This study investigates the use of Italian by an American family who lived in Sicily for five years and who, after returning to their homeland, continues to use Italian in specific contexts. The research aims to understand the linguistic, affective, and pragmatic motivations underlying this behavior. The results reveal that Italian is predominantly used within the family, through established rituals and in situations where communicative exclusivity is desired. These dynamics suggest a parallel with jargons, as the language is employed to strengthen internal group cohesion and to exclude outsiders, responding to needs for secrecy and shared identity. Although only one member maintains an active connection with Italian culture outside the domestic sphere, the experience of living  in Italy continues to exert a significant influence on the academic, professional, and residential prospects of the entire family. In conclusion, Italian emerges as a language that, while having lost its primary function as a means of communication with the local linguistic community, takes on a new symbolic and relational role within the family's multilingual repertoire.