ABSTRACT
Since the early 1900s the Italians have been one of the largest non-English speaking ethnic groups in Sydney. This chapter focuses on the visibility of the Italian language in the public space of two Sydney neighbourhoods. It explores how Italian – and Italian dialects to a lesser extent – are employed in the linguistic landscape of the two areas, specifically in the signs outside and inside the Italian businesses. The chapter argues that the linguistic patterns observed shape these areas as dynamic spaces with a relatively mobile bilingual population. While the Italian speaking population is diminishing, multilingual signs are increasingly used in a symbolic function in order to index qualities associated with Italianness, and thus appeal to non-Italian customers. On the other hand, Italian maintains a communicative function in the signs related to specific products that target Italian customers. More broadly, such neighbourhoods also act as catalysts for Sydney’s multilingualism. Firstly, because they still function as in-group public spaces where the younger generations of Italo-Australians can be exposed to, and employ Italian and its dialects, they facilitate language maintenance; secondly, because, through material goods, the Italian businesses favor the introduction, uptake and circulation of Italian words among Italians and non-Italians alike.
