Die diskursive Verflechtung sprachlicher Unsicherheit und Sicherheit: Neapolitanische Sprecher zwischen parlare benissimamente, dem Stigma eines dialetto sguaiato und dem Prestige des napoletano vero

The concept of linguistic insecurity incorporates various aspects of how speakers use, think they use, and/or relate to their language or language variety. In Naples, where the local language is still widely used, many speakers feel insecure about using and passing on Neapolitan (instead of Italian) to the next generation for fear of appearing ‘underclass’ or ‘uneducated’, attributes ideologically linked to the local language. At the same time, Neapolitan is associated with a significant body of nationally and internationally recognized literature, a strong local identity, and urbanity. Thus Neapolitan is at once stigmatized and prestigious, which results in both linguistic insecurity and security. This qualitative case study illustrates how speakers of Neapolitan react to the former by discursively constructing linguistic security through metalinguistic strategies of de-stigmatization.