Polite forms and sociolinguistic dynamics in contacts between varieties of Italian

This study investigates the role of language-internal (systemic) and -external (socio-cultural) factors in the socio-pragmatic development of the Italian system of address. The Italian system of pronouns developed historically from a single pronoun of address (T – tu (2SG)), to a two-term situation (T and V – voi (2PL)), to a three-term situation (T, V, L – Lei (3SG.F)), and then to a two-term situation (T-L). Starting from these premises, this study analyses the different factors (linguistic and sociolinguistic) at play in the development of the Italian system of address, taking into consideration the co-occurrence of pronominal and nominal forms of address; the characteristics of different mechanisms of deferential address (2.PL vs 3.SG) and their relationship with the socio-cultural changes that Italian society has experienced; and the role of contact with other languages, varieties of language and dialects, and socio-cultural systems (e.g. Spanish, and Italian regional varieties and dialects).