Hello Language Lovers! In this episode of Speaking Tongues, we sit down with Massimiliano Canzanella, a passionate advocate for the Neapolitan language and its speakers. Since 2001, he has been at the forefront of initiatives aimed at the desegregation of Neapolitan and the recognition of its cultural significance within Italy. From proposing a bill for minority language inclusion to publishing literature in Neapolitan, Massimiliano's work is a testament to the resilience and richness of his heritage.
Massimiliano shares his personal journey with language, reflecting on his early experiences growing up in Naples, where Neapolitan was the primary language until he was introduced to Italian in school. He dives deep into the challenges faced by Neapolitan speakers, including the stigma and internalized shame associated with their language, and how these experiences have fueled his mission to restore dignity to his community.
In this episode, we discuss:
🇮🇹 The historical context of the Neapolitan language and its struggle for recognition in Italy.
🇮🇹 The impact of language oppression and internalized racism on Neapolitan speakers.
🇮🇹 Massimiliano's literary contributions, including two novels and a play written in Neapolitan, and their reception.
🇮🇹 The importance of cultural identity and community empowerment through language revitalization.
🇮🇹 Insights into the current state of Neapolitan language advocacy and the future of its recognition.
A heartfelt thank you to Massimiliano for sharing your powerful story and insights into the Neapolitan language and culture. If you enjoyed this episode of Speaking Tongues, please subscribe, rate, and review the Speaking Tongues Podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, and like and subscribe on YouTube so that other language lovers can find the show! You can now pledge ongoing support for the show on Buy Me a Coffee dot com or on Patreon dot com. And don’t forget to check out my food ‘zine of international language and cuisine, Taste Buds Vol 1., available for purchase now! Links to all platforms are below!
To Connect with Massimiliano:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/massimiliano-canzanella-87093b257/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/massimiliano.canzanella.3
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/massimiliano_canzanella1/
X: https://x.com/m_canzanella
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MCanzanella
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/mcanzanella.bsky.social
Website: https://www.canzanella.net/
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