Račić, Marta.
(2018).
Revitalization of Molise Croatian identity.
PhD Thesis. Filozofski fakultet u Zagrebu, Department of Croatian Language and Literature.
(Poslijediplomski doktorski studij hrvatske kulture)
[mentor Grbić, Jadranka].
Abstract
The aim of the doctoral thesis is to gain insight into identity revitalisation processes of the
Molise Croatian minority community in Italy which included facilitating the activities focused
on language preservation as well as traditional and modern culture from the second half of the
20th century to the present. Former historical, philological and ethnological research which
had dealt with the origin, language and customs of Molise Croats has been used as the starting
point. Based on this interdisciplinary foundation, a cultural and anthropological picture of the
revitalisation process, present position and status of the Croatian diaspora community has
been built up. For this purpose the identity markers within the Molise community and the
identity markers denoted by non Croatian members of the local and wider community were
observed as well as their possible in/compatibility. The theses has tried to establish to what
extent the present Molise Croatian revitalisation process is aligned with the minority policies
of the European Union, Italian minority policy and the diaspora policy of the Republic of
Croatia.
The thesis uses the quantitative ethnographic research methodology which includes methods
of both study and field work. Techniques of text analysis, case studies, semi structured indepth
audio-recorded interviews, participant observation techniques, non-intrusive evaluation
techniques, informal conversations as well as diary keeping and note taking have been used as
appropriate.
The field research was conducted in South Italy, mainly in the village Mundimitar during the
summer of 2016. Its aim was to determine the identity markers within the Molise Croatian
community as well as the identity markers used by the Italian or non-Croatian members of the
local as well as the broader community. The interviews were focused on two main topics, the
former being the language and the latter being the cultural characteristics and tradition. An
objective account of the language use as well as the cultural customs was provided, followed
by an account of individual attitudes and emotions towards the language, tradition, origin and
community.
The main identity markers within the Molise Croatian community are the language as the
most significant distinctive feature followed by the feeling of pride because of being different
and belonging to a community, the importance of Saint Lucy as the patron saint and finally
poetry writing which is read publicly once a year at the manifestation Večera na-našo.
The features which were identified as specific of this community by the non-Croatian (Italian)
inhabitants of Molise partially correspond to the Molise Croats' self-evaluation, and these were language, closedness in the linguistic sense, openness in the social sense, poetry writing
and the propensity for artistic expression.
The results show that after centuries of its presence in the region of south Italy, the Molise
Croatian community has completely integrated into society, but at the same time has resisted
complete assimilation through its language, the most prominent identity feature. Taking into
account that this minority did not preserve either its name or the name of the language it
spoke, but has developed the awareness of its name and origin through the revitalisation
process, it can be concluded that the process of revitalisation over several decades has resulted
in significant changes for the community.
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