Veneto dialect in the linguistic repertoire of Igbo-Nigerians in Padua

Abstract

In this article, I will discuss the presence of Veneto dialect in the linguistic repertoire of Igbo-Nigerians living in the city of Padua. The case of Veneto dialect is particularly interesting, as it is one of the most widely spoken Italo-Romance dialects in everyday communication with friends and outsiders. The study analyses interview excerpts in which participants talk about the linguistic repertoire of the Veneto region and their knowledge, use and perception of Veneto dialect. The findings show that participants are aware of the sociolinguistic situation of the Veneto region and make comparisons between the Veneto linguistic repertoire and the one in the Igbo-speaking area in Nigeria. Moreover, participants use the Veneto dialect in communications at work, with Italian friends and elderly people. The use of dialect is not a choice but rather a necessity for effective communication. Participants do not have a positive attitude toward using Veneto dialect, as they still perceive the dialect to be too geographically restricted and prefer to put effort into learning Italian.