Navigating multiple languages: a study of plurilingualism in the context of student migration

Globalization and international migration flows inevitably bring about new patterns of linguistic and cultural heterogeneity. The phenomenon of plurilingualism is acknowledged as a reality not only in traditionally multilingual regions, but in countries with substantial migrational influences as well. Migration may often lead to the expansion of individuals’ linguistic repertoires, significant changes in their language practices and, possibly through these processes, to the creation of multifaceted and complex plurilingual identities. While some migrants actively use their full linguistic repertoire to integrate into host country’s society and penetrate local networks, others fail to adapt to new linguistic practices and tend to maintain a linguistic and cultural distance, consequently developing a heightened sense of national identity. The mixture of languages spoken by plurilingual migrants and the conscious choice of languages spoken in specific settings can reflect certain aspects of their transnational identities and current relationships with local interlocutors. This Master’s thesis research attempts to provide insights into some complexities of linguistic experiences of non-Italian students in Italy, as well as the range of possible outcomes in terms of plurilingual identity development.