Agli Stati generali della lingua italiana a Firenze presentato Libro bianco “l’italiano nel mondo che cambia”

“Many ideas and proposals for tapping the potential of the Italian language have emerged in these two days of discussion. We must now see to it that promotion of our language remains a prominent concern of policy-makers and the parliament. The Italian language is not a mere by-product”, asserted Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Mario Giro at the conclusion of the meeting of the States General on the Italian Language. The meeting’s title was Italian in a Changing World, and was held yesterday and today in Florence’s Palazzo Vecchio and Teatro della Pergola.

The event, promoted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Universities and Research (MIUR) and the Ministry for Cultural Assets and Activities and Tourism (MIBACT) and the City of Florence, offered an opportunity to outline new strategies for the dissemination of Italian abroad in light of the current challenges. After the opening plenary session in the Salone dei Cinquecento, the sessions continued this morning at the Teatro della Pergola.

Participants included renowned artists such as Renzo Arbore, Tosca, Fabio Armiliato, Gabriele Lavia and Dacia Maraini, as well as many other figures from the national and international panorama, who met in the form of 5 thematic panels and 3 round-tables to discuss strategies for the dissemination of the language.

In his concluding speech, Under-Secretary Giro stated that despite various obstacles “the silence has been broken with the presentation of this White Paper, and a path toward the dynamic promotion of our language has been undertaken, thanks not least to the involvement of the private sector. There is a growing and diversified demand for Italian around the world, but we must find innovative formulas for meeting an increasingly numerous public. Among these, for example, an Italian language students’ association capable of establishing a network of persons interacting in Italian”. “Against a backdrop of reduced economic resources”, Giro explained, “we need to boost creativity”.

“Precisely in order to make sure that the suggestions contained in this White Paper are applied”, Giro concluded, “a series of important meetings are being planned for the principal stakeholders in the promotion of the Italian language, beginning with MAECI and MIUR. Over the coming days I will be meeting once again with Minister Giannini and a meeting will be held in early 2015 to assess the progress that has been made. The States General will meet again in 2016”.

Alderwoman Nicoletta Mantovani then announced that Florence would bid to host the 2016 meeting. “We are honoured to have hosted this encounter, and believe that the location could not have been more in keeping, given the fact that Florence has always been a touchstone for the Italian language around the world”, Mantovani said, “and the high level of participation is proof that interest in the Italian language is still very much alive”. The alderwoman also renewed a proposal to “create a permanent observatory of the Italian language in Florence by making the most of certain strongpoints such as our Academia della Crusca”. “Opera too is an exceptional tool for the dissemination not only of the language but of the culture as well, and we have been working to promote UNESCO recognition of lyric opera as part of world heritage”.