Saving the Unsavable or Self-Translating to Exist? An Investigation into Self-Translation in Sicilian Context

Abstract

This article investigates whether self-translation can be a tool of cultural legitimization and contribute to the vitality of minority languages broadly understood, using the example of 21st-century Sicilian poetry. Building on research in biocultural diversity, language maintenance and revitalization, and (self-)translation, the article briefly outlines the issue of language maintenance and the ambivalent role of self-translation in minority-language settings. It then considers the status of Sicilian and its vitality, and analyzes examples of self-translation from Sicilian into Italian in mainstream publishing and social media. The analysis underscores the dynamics of literary production and dissemination, as well as the associated publication practices. The Sicilian context shows that self-translation may be a tool for linguistic sustainability through publication formats that give prominence to minority languages. Bilingual editions and social media, in particular, may offer new opportunities for language maintenance.