‘The Italian Job’ : the impact of input from television on language learning

Abstract

One of the most interesting aspects regarding Maltese media throughout the recent years has been language acquisition, especially where exposure to Italian via television is concerned. Research carried out locally provides clear evidence that individuals who follow Italian television programmes regularly can both comprehend and speak Italian, even though they may not have learnt the language at school or through formal instruction. The effectiveness of television input in order to learn Italian is also corroborated by the fact that the recent developments in Maltese media, which have led to a considerable decrease in the amount of exposure to this language, have also been accompanied by an evident decline in the popularity and in the competence of this language. Furthermore, language acquisition via television is not only a Maltese phenomenon: though learning Italian through television Malta is enhanced by cultural and typological issues, in foreign contexts linguistic input via television may enhance foreign language competence. This is the case of English in Holland, Belgium and in Scandinavian countries and of Italian itself in Albania and in some North African countries.