"La lingua il seme, i dialetti sono i fiori e gli accenti sono i petali”: competenze meta-sociolinguistiche e contesti scolastici

The study analyses the meta-sociolinguistic competence of students with a migratory background in some Tuscan high schools. It focuses on the students’ relationship with the host country’s language and the regional Italian in Tuscany, as well as the impact of multilingualism and the multilingual school environment on metalinguistic skills, including the perception of microdiatopic variation. The results highlight that even the first migrant generations develop a relationship with Italian dialects. Positive attitudes towards linguistic diversity promote the knowledge of dialects, while meta-sociolinguistic skills are influenced by multilingualism. The dialect is perceived as a source of curiosity and inclusion within the peer group, rather than a social barrier. Attitudes towards dialects are evolving, with migrant students appreciating Tuscan for its historical prestige. The study emphasizes the importance of adopting a holistic perspective on multilingualism, considering affective and cognitive aspects and promoting a fluid and creative use of languages.