Social bonding and bridging through languages in Gozo (Malta)

Abstract

This chapter proposes a conceptual framework for the interpretation of plurilingualism and multidialectism on a small island. It presents Gozo, the second island of the Maltese archipelago, as a case study, and examines the duality of social bonding and bridging through language practices. In this context, Maltese, English and other languages operate as bridges to education, cultural diversity and economic activity, while multidialectism is key to social bonding and identity. It also examines the perceptions of Gozitan adult speakers about the vitality of their language varieties of Maltese. In a questionnaire I conducted in 2018, a few Gozitans expressed a concern that immigration might be causing a reduction in opportunities for the use of Gozitan-Maltese varieties, while several other respondents interpreted the vernacular as an inalienable attribute of their culture and identity.